It was tipped to be close, and it was as Strathmore beat Aberfeldie by two points in the Essendon District Football League premier division grand final at Windy Hill on Saturday.
The Mores led by 13 points at half-time, 14 at three-quarter time and it looked as though they would win easily.
The Mores led by 13 points at half-time, 14 at three-quarter time and it looked as though they would win easily.
But a combination of poor kicking and Abers’ determination took the match to the wire before Strathmore got home 9.17 (71) to 10.9 (69).
PICTURE GALLERY: EDFL grand final: Strathmore beats Aberfeldie
The ball was locked deep in Aberfeldie’s forward line in the dying minutes. But after a number of stoppages the Mores managed to clear the ball as the siren sounded to send their faithful into raptures.
Adam Winter kicked four goals and was among the best for the Mores, while midfielder Matthew Knight was named best on ground.
Meanwhile, Greenvale and Aberfeldie met in both the reserves and under-18 grand finals.
Aberfeldie was too good in the under-18s, winning 12.10 (82) to 7.16 (58).
But the result was reversed in the reserves, with the Jets beating Abers 14.9 (93) to 8.7 (55).
Elsewhere, Aberfeldie’s Mark Blake won the R.S.Reynolds best-and-fairest medal at the Essendon District Football League awards.
Blake, who played 99 games for Geelong in the AFL, polled two votes in the final round to finish the night on 18 in the premier division count. He was one clear of last year’s Reynolds medallist, Andrew Browne, of Keilor, and Greenvale’s Stephen Brewer.
Browne and Brewer both polled three votes in the final round.
In division 1, Taylors Lakes’ Mark DeSousa won a record fourth Hutchinson Medal.
He finished seven votes ahead of West Coburg’s Abdikhane Fitaax.
In division 2, Moonee Valley’s Moustafa Hammoud won the best and fairest award, four votes clear of East Keilor’s Daniel Neville.Tullamarine duo Daniel Mangan and Jonathan Kent shared the division 1 goalkicking award, while Roxburgh Park’s Matthew Mickelson won the award in division 2.
Demons Dale Foote tied for the reserves division 1 best and fairest.
Jacana’s Khan Sayers won the title of club administrator of the year.
