By David Nagel
The culture of the Kooweerup Cricket Club has once again shined bright with the Demons claiming a stunning eighth premiership in 14 years against Cardinia in the CCCA Premier Division grand final at Denhams Road.
The Demons gave club legend and skipper Michael ‘Doofy’ Giles a fairytale and emotional finish to his top-flight career with an 83-run triumph in front of a boisterous home crowd.
After winning the toss and batting first – in hot and windy conditions – the Demons made 212 on Saturday, courtesy of patient half centuries from opener Luke McMaster (60 off 137) and number-five Chris Bright (66 off 141).
McMaster held the Demons top-order together before handing over to Bright after the pair shared a 26-run stand either side of the tea break.
McMaster skied a ‘jumper’ from off-spinner Travis Wheller just five overs after tea, with Bright tucking away his naturally aggressive game to guide the Demons through to the last over of the day.
Wheller (3/48 off 24) and Lachlan Volpe (4/77 off 29) were brilliant for the Bulls on day one, with the pair bowling unchanged for the last 20 overs of the innings, taking a combined 6/61 to keep a dangerous situation under control.
But the Bulls had no answer to a rampaging Demons’ pace attack on Sunday, with Adam McMaster (4/32 off 12.5), Jess Mathers (4/54 off 18) and Luke McMaster (2/42 off 13) bowling the home side to victory after restricting the Bulls to 129.
Alex Nooy (23) top scored for the Bulls, who had six players work their way into the teens but not get through to 20.
Bright was named Man of the Match after his patient vigil on Saturday, which was played in complete contrast to the thoughts he had as he headed to the crease.
“How far can I hit the ball, that’s what I was thinking to be honest,” he said.
“But, in the back of my mind, I knew Doofy (Giles) was retiring, I knew my brother (Matt) was thinking about retiring, and I wanted to do it for a couple of others as well.
“Mitch Davey, the son a great in Matt Davey, he hadn’t won a flag, Luke McMaster, he only had the Covid flag, they’re a couple of blokes that have really put the work in over a few years and I wanted to do it for them as well.
“That’s not how I normally bat, I’ve never blocked so many balls in my life, but to dig in and do it for the team was really important and very satisfying.
“I just tried to bat as deep as I could and get us to a competitive total…it’s probably the first time I’ve ever really dug in for the team and not thought about blasting.
“I’m proud of myself how I dug in, and to hear a few of the older guys at the club – Johnno (Steve Johnson), Matty (Davey) and Tubsy (Chris O’Hara) – say, ‘we’re proud of you mate, well batted’ that really means a lot to me.”
Giles had a falling out with the club after leading the Demons to back-to-back flags against the Bulls between 2013 and ’15…before returning this season for one last crack at the title.
“I guess fairytales do come true,” an emotional Giles said after the match.
“We weren’t the best team all season, but I had enormous confidence in this group that it could get the job done.
“To come back to Kooweerup and for it to end like this…it’s unbelievable really.
“To play in a premiership again with two of my best mates in Wombat (Chris Bright) and Mushy (Matt Bright), it’s something I’ve dreamed of but never thought would happen in 100 years.”
The Bright brothers have now played together in all eight premiership wins since that 2009/10 triumph.
This was the third consecutive grand final appearance for Cardinia under captain Jake Prosser, who led the Bulls to their first premiership in 12 years in 2021.
Prosser will return to his home-club Langwarrin next season after a three-year stint with the Bulls.
