Magpies swoop in sweet revenge

By Mark Gullick
NARRE Warren claimed the ConnectEast premiership cup after it upset warm favourites Beaconsfield by 25 points in the Casey Cardinia grand final on Saturday.
The Magpies reversed their qualifying final humiliation with a resounding, well-earned victory.
A massive, enthusiastic crowd packed Berwick’s Edwin Flack Reserve, which was in brilliant condition.
Difficult weather had marred the majority of the season, so it was fitting the grand final was played in blustery conditions.
Narre Warren kicked with the wind in the opening term, but Beaconsfield attacked first when Ryan Donaldson marked.
His shot missed, and then the Magpies settled.
Goals to Jackson Parker and two each to Daniel Field and Nick Scanlon put Narre ahead by 39 points at the first change.
The Magpies peppered the goals in the opening term, and their 16 scoring shots to two was indicative of their dominance.
Narre Warren’s run, linking and long, precise kicking penetrated Beaconsfield all over the ground. Beaconsfield coach Aussie Jones was furious with his players’ efforts at quarter-time.
Throughout the season, it was rare for Beaconsfield to be held goalless in the opening term. David Collins made amends, after dribbling through a goal in the opening phase of the second term.
Field replied for the Magpies before Beaconsfield’s Ryan Donaldson finally kicked his first major.
The Eagles began winning clearances, and with goals to Mitch Collins and Donaldson, they worked themselves back into the match.
But goals to Matt Lee and Scanlon, which was set-up by Lee’s long run down the wing, gave the Magpies a 33-point lead at half-time.
Beaconsfield began the third term brilliantly, with a goal to Donaldson after he pounced on an errant Magpie handball, and then Clint Setford goaled from a lucky bounce which evaded a Magpie defender.
Narre Warren was again able to kick goals to maintain its sizeable lead.
Chris Collins kicked a running goal, Scanlon found Parker, who kicked truly and Brett Evans finally impacted on the contest with a goal from a 50-metre penalty.
Then, Beaconsfield seized the momentum and snatched back three goals, from captain Daniel Mislicki and Donaldson, who was becoming a massive factor having goaled twice.
A late goal to Lee held the Magpies at 33 points.
Donaldson kicked his sixth goal after an ingenious left-foot snap.
Oakley accepted a pass from Williams but missed another chance before making amends moments later.
Matthew Stocco’s shot on goal was touched.
Beaconsfield dominated the early portion of the last term and constantly pounded the goals.
They had all of the momentum as Narre Warren struggled to move the ball past the centre.
The crowd was at fever pitch as Beaconsfield got to within three goals.
They kept attacking, but Donaldson and Oakley missed opportunities.
The Magpies got their hands on the ball and adjusted the tempo of the match.
They took the ball deep into their forward line and fought to keep it there. Evans took several strong marks across the middle.
Finally, Chris Collins kicked a late goal to seal the Narre Warren win.
“The last five minutes were testing times,” relieved Narre Warren coach Matt Shinners said.
Narre Warren went into their shells the last time they met, but it was a different Magpie outfit on Saturday.
Narre Warren’s fortunes changed after they drastically altered the team’s personnel following their loss to Beaconsfield in week one of the finals.
“We went to youth,” Shinners said.
“We brought in some young guys and they just stood up. They wanted to be a part of playing senior footy. We probably erred on a couple of selection moves a month ago, we probably should have bitten the bullet then.
“I’ve coached some of these boys for five years. You go to the well a couple of times and think they’re going to keep finding it, but in the end we just went with the guys that were playing well. And now they’re premiership players.
“I had to wait until I was 34 to play in a grand final, this is why I didn’t want these kids to have to wait this long. They’re prepared to work hard and listen, and they’ve got their just rewards.”
Narre Warren has the envious knack of playing great football when it counts, and they were able to produce a brilliant performance.
Inspiring Magpie captain Glenn Hamilton missed the match with broken ribs and a punctured lung. Star on-baller Michael Collins stood in as captain.
Retiring Magpie veteran Steven Kidd was awarded the VCFL best on ground medal.
Kidd used supreme judgement and marking skills to play a prominent role in the win.