It was a real team effort that carried Sunbury Kangaroos reserves to a second successive Riddell District Football League premiership.
A total of 57 players pulled on the boots for the Kangaroos this season as they and their senior side struggled with injuries.
As many as 10 reserves were playing in the seniors at times during the season, meaning the reserves had to go scouting for players.
But everything came together on grand final day as the Kangaroos overturned a three- quarter time deficit to beat Diggers Rest 9.13 (67)-7.7 (49).
It was the Burras’ first loss for the season.
It was never going to be a high-scoring game after only two goals, both to the Burras, in the opening quarter.
The Kangaroos, kicking with the wind, finally got on the board in the second quarter and four goals to none saw them lead by 14 points at half-time.
The second half was a repeat of the first, the Burras doing the early damage to get a lead before the Kangaroos came back at them.
Five last-quarter goals ensured the Kangaroos were premiers again.
Joeb Ploog was awarded the Tom Sankey medal for best on ground, while Brad Sluggett and Tom Evans were best for the Burras.
For Kangaroos coach Wayne Meacham the win was as emotional as last year’s.
“It’s amazing,” he said after the game.
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“For the year we’ve had, with 57 players in the reserves and seniors … we just had to keep playing everyone we could find.
“I was calling people on Friday nights asking them to play.
“But we kept winning, no matter who we brought in.
“It’s a very simple game plan; our best player knows what our worst player is going to do and that’s what I’ve worked on all year.”
Despite being down at the last break, Meacham was confident of a win.
“I’ve never seen a football team apply so much pressure all over the ground,” he said. “I knew we would outstay them.
“[Diggers Rest] had been in front all year and knew what to do then but didn’t know what to do when behind.
“It was about not losing our heads.”
Meacham said he was lucky to get most of his regular players back for the finals.
One person in the reserves’ premiership side did not intend to play this season: Meacham himself.
“The boots are just about taped together,” he said.
“I can’t take any more of this. We got a few players back towards the end of the year, so guys who had come of retirement to help us out were able to watch the grand final and enjoy it.”
While Meacham’s brother, Chris, has stepped away from the senior coaching job, Meacham is looking to go for a three-peat with the reserves.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said.
