Sam Ferguson celebrates with coach Brent Eastwell as Matthew Cumming from Neerim Neerim South shows his frustration.
By Ken Moore
GARFIELD made history on Saturday when it beat Neerim Neerim South by 31 points to claim its first Ellinbank and District Football League premiership in only its second year in the competition.
A huge crowd was at the Nar Nar Goon Recreation Reserve to see the Stars bag the flag.
The win was a triumph for Garfield’s combative coach Brent Eastwell, who engineered a dramatic form turnaround to come back from a 68-point thrashing by Neerim in the second semi-final.
The premiership also represented a stunning revival for the club: It was on the brink of folding over the summer of 2009 when there was an internal rift over the merits of staying in the Gippsland Football League or moving to the EDFL.
Garfield entered the game without veteran sharpshooter Mal McKenna, surprisingly overlooked at the selection table, while Neerim took a punt on its leading goalkicker Chris Redl, who missed the second semi-final with a leg injury.
Intermittent morning showers disappeared in time for the main game, but the slightly damp conditions underfoot, and the slippery ball, saw many turnovers early in the game.
Attacking play was often forsaken in favour of caution by both teams – and combined with some hasty kicking on goal, neither side managed a goal in the first quarter and the Stars went into the first break with a one-point lead over the Cats’ four points.
The second quarter promised more action when Garfield youngster Matt Runnalls produced the first goal of the match with a wonderful snap at the two-minute mark. But it turned out to be the only six-pointer of the first half.
The remainder of the second quarter was played like the first – accountable football in tandem with poor field kicking resulted in few genuine scoring opportunities.
Not surprisingly the defenders were the most prominent players in the first half with Ned Marsh, outstanding in a sweeping role off the half-back line, leading the way for the Stars. He was ably supported by Shane Reid and last-line protectors Damian Rhind and Shaun Slama.
For Neerim Nick Humphrey, Ryan Muir and Dean McFarlane offered steadfast defence, while Cam Hinkley gave the Cats good drive from behind the centre. The midfields nullified each other, hence the goal drought in the first half.
The game came to life seven minutes into the third quarter when first-season Neerim coach Leigh Sheehan planted the ball through the big sticks to level the scores.
But enigmatic Stars forward Daniel Fry replied less than two minutes later when he finished off some terrific team play by Matt Hobbs and Luke Bee Hugo.
The next 10 minutes again were goalless and then the Cats’ hopes of a comeback turned to despair: Late goals by the Stars’ Nick Marsh (an opportunist kick off the ground) and Bee Hugo (left unattended) gave the minor premiers a handy 19-point advantage at three-quarter-time.
Sheehan told his charges at the last break to play on at all costs and take risks but the Cats couldn’t do it and goals to Garfield’s Fry, Sam Ferguson, with a freakish kick off the ground, and Ned Marsh made sure the Stars had the premiership cup well and truly in their possession midway through the last term.
Veteran Cat Jack Halligan and Redl scored late goals, but it was too late to retrieve the situation for Neerim.
Garfield had to show all its best qualities to win. It prevailed because it went in with a game plan to kick short, keep control of the ball and reduce the amount of disputed ball, which often saw it come off second best in the second semi-final.
It managed to restrict the number of 50-50 contests and this stopped the Cats from winning enough of the ball to set up their running game.
The pressure the Stars put on the Cats’ ball carriers was first rate and made them cough it up far too often.
“Fantastic effort, we stuck at it all day and the spirit of this club is still alive and kicking,” coach Eastwell told his players in a packed and rocking changeroom.
Ned Marsh stood out like a beacon and won the VCFL medal for best on ground. He showcased his talent from the opening bounce by turning defence into attack regularly and he seldom wasted a disposal.
Ruckman Tom Marsh gave the Stars excellent drive after half-time and midfielders Nick and Ben Marsh showed their usual hardness at the ball.
Defenders Damian Rhind, Rick Kamphuis and Shaun Slama played the percentages well and never flinched a contest. Daniel Fry chipped in with three vital second-half goals, Eastwell, Shane Reid, Ryan Munro, Matt Hobbs and Bee Hugo made telling contributions in a good all-round team effort.
“We couldn’t get our run going and kicking seven points before our first goal cost us. Things didn’t go our way but credit to Garfield because they were the better team,” Neerim coach Sheehan said.
Neerim had no clear winners. Its midfield brigade had little of its usual influence on the game and its better players were its defenders, led by Dean McFarlane, Ryan Muir, Nick Humphrey and Darren Ratten.
Ruckman Matt Young took it up to Tom Marsh in the first half, ruck-rover Hinkley had a crack, Tyssen Morrow was the most dangerous of the Cats forwards and Urie won plenty of disposals but he did not have his usual effect on the game.
