Tara Murray
The years of disappointment were forgotten on Saturday night as South Morang finally claimed the Northern Football League division 3 premiership.
The Lions had made at least the preliminary final every year since 2014, including two grand finals, but are yet to win a premiership.
On Saturday, they faced Laurimar in their third grand final in four seasons, with eyes on the prize once more.
For the Power, it was their first senior grand final having made finals the last few years.
Lions coach Gary Hall, who has been through much of the heartache in recent times, said everyone across the club was thrilled to finally get there.
“It was a great day for us as a club,” he said on Sunday. “To have the reserves win as well it was a great day.
“To have both the reserved and seniors cup in the rooms after the game. We said to the boys to enjoy them as they don’t come often. Most of the boys are still there and haven’t been to bed.”
It was the Power which had the better start to the game, leading by 14 points at quarter time despite having less scoring shots.
Hall said they didn’t have the best start.
“Laurimar is always a fast starting side,” he said. “We were a little flat early on.
“We had one more scoring shot in the first quarter, but we didn’t make the most of them early.
“They then kicked the first goal of the second quarter before we kicked into gear and the rest was history
“We started to control a lot of the play and our run and carry picked up and we were able to get the job down.”
Hall said the way they played in the third was when he started to think that the premiership drought would be over.
He said despite the last few years, there wasn’t anything special said at half time to get the boys up and going.
“A grand final was up for grabs,” he said. “We’d done hard work throughout the year to win it. We just stuck to our structures and match ups.
“We wanted them to go out and enjoy the moment and play football, as these moments don’t come around often.”
Hall said in the final quarter it was about setting the tempo and not rushing with the game in their control.
He said the fans on the side lines got a bit nervous late in the piece, but the coaching staff knew they had done enough.
Hall said it was pretty exciting not just for the playing group, but all the supporters who come week in and week out to watch the side.
Jake Potter kicked three goals for the Lions, James Hewson, who kicked two goals, was awarded the best on ground medal.
Hall said it was ruck Liam Jolly that impressed him the most.
“It was pretty even across the board,” he said. “Liam the last two weeks in the ruck. He had to step up with the other two boys [Nathan Stefanile and Aaron Lazaric] missing.
“He was enormous.
“Samuel Hutton and Bailey Brown in the middle. The pressure they put on in the middle after losing our two ruckmen had put us on the back foot.
For the Power, Jacson Cecil kicked four goals
Ethan Bateman was named their best.
The premiership is the Lions first since 2011, when they won the division 3 premiership. They found themselves back in division 3 in 2014 after being relegated.
Hall said they were keen for another tilt at division 2.
“Division 2 is back where we belong,” he said. “It has been a while. It’s a different atmosphere, there’s different ground and teams.
“It’s put a spring in our step.”
Hall said he had already signed on for next season, with the club keen to ensure they can consolidate their spot in that division.
In the reserves grand final, the Lions beat Mernda, 14.8 (92)-4.8 (32).
Joshua Lansfield kicked four goals in the win.
