The Rats were named the 2017 Wimmera league under-17s premiers.  

The Rats were big winners in the end with the team running away with a 11.14 (80) to 7.7 (49) victory. 

This win capped off an incredible feat for the Rats.

They ended the season with a perfect record, winning every single game they played in 2017.

It was a close contest in the opening half where the Saints and Rats were fighting for the lead. 

It was an early start for the Rats who got a big lead in the opening quarter. 

The Rats went into the opening term huddle with a 10-point lead, the Saints kicked a perfect 3.0 (18). 

The Saints came back in the second quarter and were leading for a majority of the term. 

They couldn’t hold onto the lead, the Rats came back late in the second quarter and went into the main break with a 5.8 (38) to 5.1 (31) lead. 

The game was won in the third quarter by the Rats who gripped onto the lead and held it until the end of the contest. 

The Rats allowed the Saints to score just two minors in the third term while they kicked three majors. 

It was too big of a mountain to climb for the Saints who managed to make six scoring shots, two were goals. 

Rats captain and best on ground was Baydn Cosgriff, Gove was best on ground for the Saints. 

Rats coach Matthew Summers said his players had been committed all season. 

“They have stuck together all season and they have relied on one another,” he said. 

“When someone doesn’t perform, another player will stand up and fill that spot for them.

“Some of the blokes who have carried us throughout the season may not have been at their best today but then others stood up and it was fantastic to see.” 

Summers said he never got complacent. 

“You never think it is over until it is over,” he said. 

“I liked Baydn Cosgriff, Matthew Spalding, Brody Griffin on the wing and I was pretty impressed with a few guys down back who just stuck together.

“They did it tough but hung in there. It was a team effort all over I reckon.” 

Summers said although his team came away with a big win it wasn’t easy. 

“I thought Mitch Martin and the young boy (Angus) Gove did alright for them. Gove was good out of the middle,” he said. 

Summers said after the win and a successful day for the club everyone got together at their club rooms and celebrated. 

“We just had a few coca colas,” he said.