“It’s unreal”: GDFL premiers add sixth flag to Victoria Park

THE all-Golden Plains Grand Final between Bannockburn and Inverleigh on Saturday went down in Geelong & District Football League (GDFL) history as one of the best fourth quarters in a season decider to date.

It might have been Bannockburn captain Dan Measures’ 10th flag in local footy, but he had just one finger up during the premiership celebrations following the Tigers’ 13.9.87 to 12.11.83 win over Inverleigh. “That fourth quarter felt like it was going on forever, it was such a seesaw affair,” Measures said post-game.

“I’m sure it was a great spectacle for the crowd, but not for us. Especially for me when [Adam] Donohue was in top form like that, it was just unreal.”

Both sides scored a collective 81 points in the fourth quarter alone as 13 goals were kicked in the final 30 minutes.

Bannockburn knew how composed Inverleigh had been all season, but co-coaches Ron Pilgrim and Jack Brauman had tactics in place to limit the Hawks’ damage.

“They are a very, very good side in-tight,” Measures said.

“The message from the start was that we were going to have to chip away at them all day, no matter what the deficit or lead was, we know we had to keep going at them.

“We knew we had the fitness, there was no negativity, and credit to Inverleigh who came at us with everything, but it was anyone’s on the day, and thankfully it was ours.

“We needed to dig deep on that one and I’m especially proud of the boys.”

Scoring was few and far between for both sides through three quarters, as a full crowd watched on.

Only a point separated the Tigers and Hawks after the first term, before Inverleigh snared a 10-point lead at half time.

Bannockburn answered in the third, keeping the Hawks goalless in the premiership quarter and leading 49-40 at the final break.

However, Inverleigh’s seven goals and Bannockburn’s six in the fourth quarter would result in the match going down to the wire.

Despite the persistent efforts of the Hawks, the siren sounded with the Tigers in front by four points, ending the hopes of Inverleigh’s first GDFL senior premiership.

Kieran Fulton, despite battling sickness throughout the week, slotted four goals in the win for Bannockburn.

Callum Hetherington had three, while Lincoln Peters and Hayden Spiller each notched up two.

Vice-captain Tristan Battaglia and Ayden Osborne rounded out the Tigers’ scoring.

Bannockburn midfielder Connor Jervies was named best on ground.

This year’s premiership under Ron Pilgrim is the sixth for Bannockburn in the GDFL.