MYRTLEFORD has climbed back to the top of the Wangaratta and District Junior Football League after claiming the under 16 premiership on Saturday.
Saints came into the match at the Norm Minns Oval as the favorites, but with Kangaroos playing sensational football throughout the finals series, nothing could be taken for granted.
The Saints players had already watched their younger club-mates upset by Tigers in the under 14 grand final, and knew they couldn't take any chances with the dangerous Roos.
From the outset, Saints dominated play.
While a strong cross breeze made goals extremely difficult to come by, the Myrtleford side opened up a 21-point buffer in the opening term, keeping the Roos scoreless.
While they missed chances to blow out the margin in the second term, booting 1.6, the work of Jake Sharp, Joe Underhill and Tyson Rouse down back meant the Roos' woes continued, with their halftime score just 0.1.
Up by 32 points the result was practically in the book, but still Saints pushed forward, with the likes of Louis Vescio, Dylan Piazza, Daniel Roche and Justin Baldori heavily involved in the play.
In the end they got up by 45 points, leaving coach Mathew Crisp well satisfied.
"It was extremely satisfying," Crisp said.
"The boys stuck to the game plan, running the ball off half back and looking for targets.
"The conditions made it difficult to hit targets and kick goals, but the boys persisted all day and got the rewards.
"A few of them had played in losing grand finals before, so it was great for them to experience a premiership."
Crisp paid credit to his defence, led by league best and fairest Jake Sharp, while he said the midfield was well on top.
"Jake Sharp was really the main one again," he said.
"He is a very smart player who just uses the ball so well.
"Joe Underhill and Tyson Rouse were great as well they played very tight and didn't allow many scoring opportunities.
"Dylan Piazza went into the middle in the second half and won a lot of the ball, Elijah Wales was one of our better players until he got a knock to the head, and Pat Sullivan is like a greyhound he's just so quick."
It was a great effort by the Roos to get into the grand final they went down to Saints by 101 points in round two and 78 points in round nine.
But Crisp knew his boys would have their work cut out after they snuck home by just two points when the sides met in the final round of the home and away season.
"They have improved a lot since the start of the year," he said.
"They've been playing some good football recently, so I knew it was going to be tough.
"But our boys have been getting better as well, and it was a great reward for all their hard work through the year."
By - SCOTT ANDERSON.
THE BEST: Saints were crowned the best under 16 team by winning Saturday's grand final.
Last Modified on 14/09/2011 16:53