By Tara Murray
The monkey is off Roxburgh Park’s back, with the side finally breaking through for its first senior premiership.
The Magpies, among the tops teams in Essendon District Football League division 2 during the year, were playing in their third grand final in five years.
On Saturday, they finally claimed that No.1 mantle, defeating East Sunbury 6.11 (47)-5.11 (41).
First-year Magpies coach Michael Farrelly was in a state of disbelief after the game.
Farrelly, who was one of the stars for the Magpies on grand final day, said he would have never imagined a premiership in his first year as coach.
He said both his side and East Sunbury had been surprise packets.
“It’s funny – on Thursday, as part of our meeting, I said to the boys that 12 months ago when I signed on, if they had have offered me a future card and said you’d be in the grand final against East Sunbury, would you take it? I would have said yeah absolutely,” he said.
“We’re ahead of schedule, as we were talking 2019. I didn’t foresee this – it’s amazing.”
The Magpies started the better of the two sides, their experience showing through.
The Thunder settled and both sides had periods of control in the middle to quarters.
At three-quarter time, the Magpies led by one point.
Though Farrelly didn’t mention it at three-quarter time, he was concerned about the Thunder kicking with the wind in the final quarter.
“I didn’t mention anything, but I was thinking hopefully the boys could settle,” he said.
“After half-time, when I ran out, the rain had hit … you hate playing in the wet, but it suited us more than it suited them.
“I think that physicality is what won us the game in the end.”
There was just one goal kicked in the final quarter and that was by Osama Saad.
Saad, who came into the side for the grand final, had a mixed day.
He kicked two goals, but gave away a number of free kicks he was lucky didn’t prove costly.
Farrelly said they knew playing Saad would be a risk.
“At match committee on Thursday night, we said he’s either going to cost us the game or win us the game,” he said.
“He lives on a sword’s edge. I call him the double-edge sword, ’cause you don’t know which end he’s going to poke out on the day.
“Off-field, he is one of the nicest guys. He’s a leader.
“Sometimes [with] that physicality, you’ll wear a couple of free kicks if that gets us up and about. But it’s done now and we’re premiers.”
Skipper Harley Short was named best on ground.
Farrelly said that not only does he do all the little things on the ground, but also a lot off the ground.
Farrelly, who has had success elsewhere, said this flag was more about the playing group and the people around the club.
“It may sound selfish, but I’m more rapt for them, than anyone else,” he said.
“There’s so many people behind the scenes that are almost in tears with the monkey off the back.
“I’ve had supporters who I’ve never actually met hugging me in tears saying, ‘Thank you’.”
The win means the Magpies will move into division 1 next season.
Farrelly said they had started resigning players a couple of months ago.
He said that having earned promotion, they were likely to keep a couple of players who would have gone elsewhere.
While the senior side tasted grand final joy, the reserves side was unable to make it three premierships in a row.
Moonee Valley came from nearly five goals down at three-quarter time to win 6.13 (49)-5.11 (41).
Farrelly said that while he was shattered for the reserves boys, he said they were also part of the senior premiership.
“We played 43 players [in the seniors] and on Thursday night, we spoke as a big collective – we all stood around the circle,” he said.
“I’m not sure if any other side played more than us, not just in our division but all divisions.
“As much as it is for us, it’s about those guys as well… they may not have been on the field, but the club’s got the trophy.”
For more photos, CLICK HERE.
For more on the grand final:
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/roxburgh-park-skipper-lauds-glorious-end-long-journey/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/east-sunbury-bows-out-at-final-hurdle/
www.starweekly.com.au/sports/east-sunbury-president-lauds-massive-effort/
