Sea Eagles seal the deal

By Aiden Box

AFTER an eventful morning and early afternoon, and an extinguished fire, the main event could begin. 

For the first time in the current West Gippsland competition’s history, Inverloch-Kongwak and Phillip Island would do battle for the ultimate prize. 

IK gunning to even the ledger at two premierships apiece, while the Islanders were looking for their third. 

The build-up and anticipation for this Grand Final was near indescribable, but when things finally got underway it was the experienced Bulldogs who dominated the opening minutes. 

They failed to get any decent scoring shots away though, and this was really the story of the day, as Shem Hawking and Tate Short got their intercepting eyes in, and IK got themselves going. 

Shaking off the nerves they found Semi Final star Taite Cumming for the first major, then their big 200+ centimetre inclusion Archer Reid got involved. 

The projected AFL first round pick began to prove a big headache for Cameron Pedersen and his men, looking exceptional on the lead, taking grabs in the air and using the ball equally as well on the ground. 

Just as their Reserves had in their decider, the IK Senior squad shocked their opponents out of the gates, dominating clearances through the work of ruckman Marcus Toussaint and star midfielders

Andrew Soumilas, Ethan Park and Will Hams, shockingly holding the Bulldogs scoreless in the opening term. 

The wind became a real factor in the second quarter, howling towards the netball courts at the Koo Wee Rup Recreation Reserve, misdirecting kick after kick, sending almost all of IK’s forward drives out on the full. 

The Island couldn’t capitalise on the Sea Eagles atrocious skills though, failing to move the ball past Short, Hawking and the stingy IK defence. 

The favourites were also dealt a huge blow, losing Reid to a finger injury after a marking contest inside 50.

The second quarter was an old-fashioned tug of war match, but both teams were able to add to their tallies and the ‘Dogs got on the board, as the minor premiers’ lead stood at 25-points at the main break. 

Despite their continuous inaccuracy in front of goal, things opened up for both teams in the third, as the Island found surges of momentum to get themselves going through the bravery of Hayden Bruce, who was returning from a serious facial injury, and their inspirational leader Cameron Pedersen who continued to play through an apparent serious knee injury. 

Though the Bulldogs just couldn’t reel the lead back in, they held their heads up, chasing and pressuring IK at every opportunity.

Tom Hams’ had led his side brilliantly, ordering his troops to change angles, run and carry the football and link up with handball, which worked perfectly to cut through the Doggies defence and create opportunities for their forwards. 

Daniel Pearce, Billy Taylor and Kai McKenzie were deeply inspired by their fallen coach’s final address of the season at three quarter time and came out firing in the last quarter of the season. 

The Bulldogs kicked the first of the final term, and though they still trailed by 21-points and were without the services of their superstar in Pedersen, they still believed, such is the undeniable nature of their club. 

Unfortunately for the two-time premiers though, they had met their match, as the Sea Eagles shone under pressure and avoided another miraculous Bulldogs fourth quarter comeback. 

Everything stemmed from the tremendous performance of the IK defence, which really has been their backbone all year, and their strength allowed Will Hams to go completely off the chain in the second half, gathering an insane number of possessions both inside the contest and out, lacing out teammates and generating run for fun.

Of course, it had to be that man Will who sealed it too, with the goal of the day, on the run, tucked up against the left-hand boundary, sliding a left foot dagger through the middle of the big sticks for his third, it was truly his day.

The Inverloch-Kongwak co-skipper Tony Mahoney put the icing on the cake on the siren, booting his first goal and covering his side in premiership glory. 

The injury gods were against the Island as they lost their captain Jack Taylor to a head knock in the fourth, as Pedersen returned to the field but battled with his knee injury. 

Will Hams was undisputedly announced best afield, in a massive showing from the recruit in the 35-point win. 

Congratulations to Inverloch-Kongwak, the 2023 West Gippsland Senior Premiers!

A special congratulations is also in order to Jaz Walker and the truly extraordinary Inverloch-Kongwak netballers, the club winning the C grade premiership and clean sweeping the competition in the

A grade division to claim their second straight title, making that a truly remarkable and unprecedented five premierships on the day for the club!