Tatyoon won the first clearance of the senior Mininera District Football League grand final but that was about all that went right against Wickliffe-Lake Bolac.
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The Magpies were dominant in all aspects of the game as they completed an undefeated season and ended two years of heartache to become 2018 MDFL premiers.
They were clinical in everything they did, showing why they were undefeated throughout the home and away season.
Kicking against the breeze in the first term did not phase the Magpies as they kept Tatyoon goalless and managed six goals of their own to lead by 38 points at the first break.
“All we were focusing on was getting off to a good start,” Magpies co-coach Nigel Otto said.
“We did that and kept that going for the rest of the game.”
The Hawks looked rattled in the second term, conceding repeated inside 50s as the wind aided Wickliffe-Lake Bolac’s forward attacks.
The Hawks put through their first goal of the game late in the second quarter but by that point it was well and truly over.
Wickliffe-Lake Bolac led 81-7 at the main break.
“We knew we had to start well to have a chance but we we didn’t execute our game plan in the first half,” Tatyoon coach Simon Brearley said.
“We wanted to play on our terms but they didn’t let us, their pressure was really good in the first half.
“Over the last two weeks our defensive pressure has been the strongest part of our game but we didn’t execute that well enough.”
The Hawks fought back in the third term, kicking two goals to one to win the quarter.
They started the fourth well but the Magpies surged home, booting four goals to record a 17.16 (118) to 4.4 (28) victory.
“We had pretty even contributions across the board, I couldn’t pick a bad player for us,” Otto said.
The Jim Knight Medal winner was Magpie Tas Clingan while teammate Brad Keilar won the AFL Victoria Country best on ground medal.
“Jack Antonio gave us a real spark, Jack Fraser was fairly solid at centre-half-back an Zander McDougall did a good job on (Will) Slattery,” Brearley said.
Harley Hunter and Chris Keilar both had four goals each for the Magpies.
Magpies co-coach Joe Otto said there was an overwhelming sense of relief after the game.
“After losing two in a row to get that one is a great feeling,” he said.
“It makes it so much sweeter after losing a couple in a row. It is a great win for the club and the community.”
Despite losing comprehensively in the end, Brearley said he has seen the season as a positive for his side.
“We thought a top three finish at the start of the year would be a reasonable goal so to finish fifth and then go on to play in a grand final is a pleasing achievement,” he said.
“Obviously it is disappointing to not have been able to perform how we would have liked on the big stage though.”
It is Wickliffe-Lake Bolac’s first premiership win since 2013.