By ASH BOLT
DEER Park have gone one step further than last year, claiming the Under-19 Division 1 Premiership with an 18-point win over Werribee Districts.
The Lions got their noses ahead early with strong marking and fast ball movement, giving them a four goal to one first quarter and a 19-point lead at quarter-time.
Werribee Districts knew they needed to improve in the second quarter before the game got out of control and goals from Daniel Kerruish and Joel Russell put them back within five points halfway through the second term.
Tensions flared and the game picked up in intensity as the Tigers drew closer, but a couple of goals from Deer Park at the right time meant Werribee Districts went in to the main break trailing by nine-points.
Deer Park came out after the break and kicked the first two goals of the third term to stretch the lead out to 20 points before a goal from Alex Psarros brought Werribee Districts back to within 15-points.
Poor kicking inside-50 meant the Tigers could only manage the one goal for the quarter.
A late goal from Mohammed Taleb gave Deer Park a 19-point lead at three quarter time.
Although leading by a solid margin, Deer Park would have been nervous going into the last term as Werribee Districts had been known for their strong finishes.
The Tigers looked on the way to another come from behind win when they kicked the first two goals of the final quarter to bring the margin back to five points.
A timely goal from Mark Galea put the Lions back to 12-points ahead before Werribee Districts replied quickly to drag the margin back to five points.
The game looked like it could go either way before a poor turnover in the Tigers’ backline gave Mark Galea another chance to put Deer Park 11-points up and a goal from Nicholas Nesci a couple of minutes later sealed the Lions’ 18-point win.
Mark Galea was voted best on ground and finished with three goals, including two important ones in the final term, while Jye King and Rusiate Komaitai also kicked a couple of goals each for Deer Park.
Jackson Menadue, Ambrose Keogh and Nicholas Buykx were the standouts for Werribee Districts.
CLICK HERE TO SEE IMAGES FROM THE GRAND FINAL
Last Modified on 12/09/2016 15:47