Winning goal fired after siren

By Kath Gannaway
HEALESVILLE, Wandin, Emerald and South Belgrave took home DRJFL premiership flags after a spectacular grand final series at Woori Yallock on Sunday.
DRJFL president John Meyers said the league had its biggest grand final crowd, with many proud dads watching their boys and girls playing for the five premiership cups as part of their Father’s Day celebrations.
Fourteen league clubs were represented at the start of the 2011 finals season, with nine clubs ultimately flying their colours around the Woori oval on Sunday.
Healesville won the Under 14s in a controversial nail biting, two-point win against Upwey-Tecoma with a goal kicked after the siren. Wandin won against Belgrave in the Under 12s, Emerald went home with two flags in the Under 16s against Woori Yallock and the Under 13s against Monbulk and South Belgrave won over Mount Evelyn in the Under 11s.
Mr Meyers said with perfect weather and a great venue, it was a win for local country football.
“Emerald’s Under 16s has been a dominating team from the Under 12s, and they’ve gone all the way through undefeated,” he said.
“It was a tight contest, but in the end Emerald had the numbers to keep rotating the bench and at three-quarter time with only a couple of goals in it, Woori just ran out of legs.”
In the Under 14s, Healesville had played three-quarters of grand final winning football, Mr Meyers said, and while Upwey Tecoma were naturally devastated by their four-point loss he said, both teams had earned their right to play, having defeated top team Emerald in the finals.
Healesville were two points down on Upwey Tecoma, after being ahead for three-quarters.
“Unfortunately because of the crowd noise, no-one could hear the siren except for people on the far side of the ground,” Mr Meyers said.
One goal turned the tide.
“The game doesn’t end until the umpire raises two hands and the rules prevail,” he said.
The Under 13s match marked the 100th premiership since the league began in 1972.
The league was formed with six clubs playing in just the one age group.
Alan Bayliss, a founding member of the league and father of Rick, one of the first Under13 players, assisted in the coin toss.
Emerald blitzed neighbouring Monbulk in a 39-to-nil walk-over.
For Wandin’s Under 12s, it was back-to-back premierships with a 10-point win against Belgrave in a replay of their 2010 match, which was a one-point nail-biter.
South Belgrave’s Under 11s were the toast of the club, claiming the club’s second grand final – the last one in 1989. They powered home in the last half to win against Mount Evelyn.