By Marcus Uhe
A 63-point win in Saturday’s Outer East Football Netball League Premier Division grand final saw Wandin secure its ninth senior premiership in emphatic fashion, ending Narre Warren’s reign as champions of the competition in the last two completed seasons.
The battle-hardened and brutal Bulldogs were at their brilliant best, running their Magpie opponents ragged at Officer Recreation Reserve in the 21.15 141 to 11.12 78 victory.
Momentum swung violently in the first quarter that ended with a slight Wandin lead, having bookended the term with two goals.
Clint Johnson and Patrick Hodgett kicked the opening two as Narre Warren started slow after their week off, but hit back quickly with the next four in 10 minutes.
Having weathered the early storm, and with fatigue likely to factor as the game continued, there were danger signs for the Bulldogs who were missing opportunities on goal, a common theme of the season.
But Daniel Hirst and Aaron Mullett goals in time-on ensured the Bulldogs hit the lead at quarter time as spectators took their breath following an absorbing half-hour.
A rapid first quarter gave way to a much slower and controlled second, as both sides adjusted to the physicality of the occasion.
The first four goals of the quarter were traded, Brodie Atkins’ snap under pressure at ground level a highlight for the Bulldogs after absorbing pressure for long stretches.
Two goals in three minutes seemed to awaken the dangerous Will Howe, who had little impact on the contest to this point.
But a pair of contested marks and accurate kicks saw him work his way into the action, much to the dread of the boisterous Wandin army.
Things threatened to unravel for Wandin, but they never lost their composure.
Two goals to both Mullett and Hodgett and one to Joel Garner late in term saw the Bulldogs open up a 29-point lead at half time to leave their opponents stunned.
Wandin entered the rooms full of life, where Narre Warren was flat-footed and looking for answers.
Rarely had they been challenged to this extent, the shock and confusion was written all-over the defending premier’s faces and body language.
Little changed to begin the second half, with Wandin sniffing blood and out for the kill.
Connor Smith and Mullett both missed chances to open the term before Joel Garner and Cody Hirst showed the forwards how it’s done after combining at stoppages, as the lead grew to 44, the largest of the afternoon on the back of seven straight majors.
Howe finally offered a reply for the Magpies, who kicked the next three as Wandin appeared to tire.
Kicks out of the back half strayed out of bounds on the full, as numbers clogged the back half under weight of pressure from further afield.
Goals to Peter Gentile and Riley Siwes for the Magpies cut the lead down to 23 points, before Hodgett answered again late in the term for a 29-point buffer as the sides changed neds for one final time in 2023.
The first goal of the final term was going to set the tone for the remainder of the match, and it was Connor Smith who did the damage within 13 seconds.
Much like he had in the third term, the pocket rocket emerged from the congestion in the middle of the ground with a flying shot on the run, but this time he kicked truly to bring the Wandin army back to life.
Howe answered back for the Magpies shortly after, but that would their final push, as the final minutes turned from contest to procession for the premiers to be.
Jordan Jaworski, Mullett, Hodgett and Johnson all goaled as the minutes ticked away, before Baha Men’s “Who let the dogs out?” rung out around the ground following the final siren.
Cody Hirst was awarded best on ground, while Mullett finished with six goals and Hodgett five in the club’s first senior premiership since 2018.
NARRE WARREN 4.3 7.5 10.8 11.12(78)
WANDIN 4.7 11.10 14.13 21.15(141)
Narre Warren Goals: Will Howe 3, Corey Bader 2, Harrison Brain, Jesse Davies, Peter Gentile, Tom Miller, Riley Siwes, Tom Toner. Best: Cameron Miller, Brad Scalzo, Travis Callahan, Peter Gentile, Jesse Davies, Joel Zietsman.
Wandin Goals: Aaron Mullett 6, Patrick Hodgett 5, Clinton Johnson 3, Joel Garner 2, Brodie Atkins, Cody Hirst, Daniel Hirst, Jordan Jaworski, Connor Smith. Best: Cody Hirst, Patrick Hodgett, Aaron Mullett, Chayce Black, Joel Garner, Patty Bruzzese.
Best on ground: Cody Hirst – Wandin.
