The Colts match started in very windy conditions with South Bunbury winning the toss. The Lions would do all the attacking in the opening minutes but couldn’t score into the teeth of the strong breeze.
It would take fifteen minutes for the opening score, with Noah O’Shea kicking the opening goal. It was hard to determine the advantage of having the breeze with Cooper Smith kicking the Tigers second soon after. When Phoenix Panuccio goaled in time on, the Tigers had three goals, and the Lions were still scoreless.
Trailing by nineteen points at quarter time, the Lions needed a good start. They peppered the goals in the early stages without getting reward for effort. A free kick reversal saw Beau Falloon convert from the goal line, giving the Lions their first goal. Conditions remained tough, but eventually Lewis Fairweather got room on his left foot to put the Lions within five points. Rodney Joseph goaled from outside fifty allowing for the wind beautifully, leveling the scores in time on. Cody Matthews put the Lions in front for the first time in the match close to half time
Wes Higgins put the Tigers back in front after taking a strong mark at the start of the third quarter, but that would be the only goal in a tough third term.
Leading by two points at three quarter time, the last thing the Tigers could afford to do was give up an early goal and that is what happened, with Billy Brookes kicking truly from the pocket. A defensive error saw the ball land in the arms of Kalani Downes who gave the Lions their biggest lead of the match. Cody Matthews made things very difficult for the Tigers when he ran into an open goal to give the Lions a sixteen point lead. Xavier Notte became the first player to kick a goal at the Southern End for the match, reducing the margin back to ten points, with the Tigers doing all of the attacking.
With eight minutes remaining Nicholas West converted a set shot, giving the Lions a sixteen point lead, making it very difficult for the Tigers. Austin Forrest put the game beyond doubt when he goals from the pocket, with the Lions last quarter sending their fans into raptures, with the young Lions winning three Grand Finals in a row. Billy Brookes had a brilliant last quarter, kicking three goals with the Lions winning by 36 points.
SCOREBAORD
Harv Bruns Lesch 0.0.0 4.3.27 4.3.27 11.7.73
South Bunbury 3.1.19 3.4.22 4.5.29 5.7.37
Goals: Harvey Brunswick Lescheanult – Billy Brookes 3, Cody Matthews 2, Kalani Downes 1, Lewis Fairweather 1, Beau Falloon 1, Austin Forrest 1, Rodney Joesph 1, Nicholas West 1. South Bunbury – Wesley Higgins 1, Xavier Notte 1, Noah O’Dea 1, Phoenix Panuccio 1, Cooper Smith 1.
Best: Harvey Brunswick Leschenault – South Bunbury – Wesley Higgins, Eamon Ramsay, Alex Brook, Nehemiah Brown, Angus Holzhauser, Nicholas Skoda
Ground: Hands Memorial Oval
Umpires: Toby Potter, Spencer Drummond, Kobe Musitano
KJ Lynn Medal: Kalani Downes (HBL)
Crowd: 1500 approx
