Rupertswood proved up to the challenge on Saturday as it claimed its first Essendon District Football League senior premiership.
It’s been a journey for the Sharks the past two seasons with plenty of lows and some highs along the way.
On Saturday, they got to taste the greatest victory as it overcame Westmeadows in the grand final.
There was no high scoring affair in the decider with it a good old arm wrestle.
The two teams traded the lead throughout the match, with just one point in it heading into the final quarter.
The Tigers kicked the first two goals of the final quarter to get out to a 13 point lead 11 minutes into the quarter.
After a point, the Sharks got one back through Mitchell Johnston to bring the margin back to a goal.
That was then reduced by a point.
Co-coach Clayton Bonello produced some magic from outside 50 to put his side in front 24 and half minutes into the final quarter.
Bonello had another shot minutes later to seal the game but missed.
The Sharks kept peppering their attacking 50 in the dying minutes to get the sealer. It didn’t come, but they had done enough to win, 8.13 (61)-8.10 (58).
Sharks co-coach Brad Fox said it was a pretty amazing feeling.
“It’s unreal,” he said. “You always hope and hope and we just dropped our guard at stoppages and went to 2.1 (13 points) down.
“We had to react and we were challenged and our boys did it all year, we did it again.”
Fox said there were some nerves late in the contest.
He said they were more focused on what they could do to get themselves back on top.
He was full of credit to Westmeadows, who not only shut down their run and got themselves back in front.
Last time the two teams played, Bonello scored a late goal which they thought was the winner before a Ryan Stingel goal on the siren gave the Tigers the win.
He wasn’t to be denied the winner this time round.
“Clay we just call him the Ferrari out there on the wing,” Fox said. “We polished him up and put him out there and let it rip.
“He’s had a tremendous season and so many of the guys have. For him to kick that goal when it mattered, that is why he is at the top of the tree.”
Jackson Pranauskas kicked three goals for the Sharks and was their only multiple goal kicker.
Westmeadows co-captain Ryan Capron was awarded the Ian Price Medal, as the best player on the ground awarded by the umpires.
In the Sharks rooms after the game, they felt Bailey Verrall might have been robbed.
Jackson Cardillo and Clayton Bonello were others named in the best.
Fox said they had a lot of players stand up when it was called for.
“We talk about know your role, accept your role and play your role,” he said. “Some days it’s your day to star and some days you just need to grit your teeth and get the job done.
“Different guys stood up at different parts of the game today. Aaron Grubb’s mark there deep in the last quarter … It was his moment.”
For the Sharks, this has been 12 months in the making.
After the 2023 season, the Sharks lost their coach and a number of top players.
They were relegated at the end of last year before coming down to division 2. They will go straight back up into division 1 next season.
Fox paid tribute to captain Daniel Kavanagh who galvanised the group and helped it get back on track.
“You are sometimes lucky enough to get a player in your club that epitomises the club, you could take their photo and put it up and that’s the logo and that’s the brand,” he said.
“Daniel Kavanagh is a leader, he’s a doer, he’s got endless energy on and off the field
“Not only did he galvanise what was left of the group, he is so selfless.
“The number of times he said just because I’m captain, if I’m not the best one to put there, don’t put me out there,
“For his leadership value, if nothing else, he’s the best one to put out there.”
Fox said they were planning to celebrate this one and then look at division 1
“We’ve got to celebrate this and enjoy the moments to tell the stories.”
