Bears double premiership glory

While a handful of goals were seen early, by far the first term’s most memorable moment was Bears’ big man Ashley Saunders soaring for what could have been a country football mark of the year contender if he’d only brought it down.

More importantly, it was 13 points Tungamah’s way at the first change of ends, but the second felt entirely different — and the scoreboard reflected as much.

Both goals in the second quarter belonged to Katandra, leaving things poised by under a kick at the half.

What followed in the third was much the opposite of the two games which preceded this one; where those junior finals embarked on a long feeling-out process before one team put the foot down, things almost ground to a halt here.

No ascendancy was capable of lasting long as the two teams took one another to task in the midfield without always punishing around the goals.

The defining moment of the term came off the boot of key forward Jake Henderson, whose sublime set shot from the pocket restored a meagre Bears advantage shortly before the final break.

Opening the last stanza, Saunders popped up with the right stuff — even if his mark wasn’t quite as spectacular as the first attempt — to put down a bit of room to breathe.

Damien Payne wasn’t far behind with a finish from the same pocket, and before long, it felt like the Bears were queuing up.

The Kats would have hardly blinked before staring down the barrel of a margin exceeding 30, and it looked safely wrapped up from there.

As jubilation ensued at the final siren, Tungamah had gone two for two on the football front in taking the reserves flag courtesy of a 9.16.70 to 7.9.51 win.

With that, Katandra’s hopes of a grand final hat-trick ended before the seniors could take the park against Waaia.

Coach Matt Bourke hailed a wildly successful turnaround for his squad after knocking over the competition’s benchmark team.

“I’m super proud of how the boys fought it out,” Bourke said.

“I thought, with Katandra being the premier side all year, that they might run all over us but our midfield got on top at the start of the last quarter, which was very pleasing.

“We started the season with three 100-point losses and that had us down and out, so to get to where we were was pleasing.

“We knew early in the first, when we were dominant, that we were winning centre clearances and we had to get our midfield on top again.

“We were a bit loose around the ground so we needed to man up and after that, the momentum came on its own and everyone rose up to the occasion.”

Accompanying a second flag on the day was a second best-on-ground award as Brady Hayes scooped the honours, having led all comers on the ground with three goals.

“He played 80 per cent of the game in midfield and then kicked some extremely crafty goals,” Bourke said.

“He lifted us in that final term with work rate that was second to none and we’re lucky to have him.”

Saunders contributed two as Tungamah’s other multiple goalkicker, while Nathan White and Cayden Rogerson each picked up a pair for the defeated Kats.

Fourths

Berrigan 0.1, 0.3, 2.6, 3.6.24.

Tungamah 1.3, 3.6, 5.6, 8.9.57.

Goals: Berrigan: C. Anderson, J. Magill, J. Swann.

Tungamah: T. Ussher 4, B. Doyle 3, J. Bamford.

Best: Berrigan: J. Magill, C. Anderson, N. Arnold, J. Swann, T. Baxter, H. Swann.

Tungamah: B. Doyle, J. Bamford, X. Chessells, T. Ussher, C. Payne, L. O''Brien.

In a clash between two teams with just one loss combined in 2024, there was always going to be quality on show.

Tungamah claimed the first of the four sets of Picola District Football League spoils after overcoming Berrigan in a Saturday morning clash at Rennie.

The Saints had come into this decider unbeaten from their 16 regular season clashes, inflicting the Bears’ only blemish of the campaign in the process.

The result brings with it some revenge on the biggest stage of all for Tungamah, although it didn’t come without a significant arm-wrestle.

Early signs were physical yet cagey from the two teams with little in the way of scoreboard reward until midway through the second term.

It was then that the Bears put what ultimately proved a game-breaking margin on the board through a pair of lightning-quick majors to boast the first three of the contest.

Caution was thrown to the wind by both sides out of their half-time huddles with a more attack-minded approach seen throughout a different-looking third term.

Undeniably the game’s most impactful moment featured Billy Doyle running into an open Bears goal and celebrating raucously with red and gold faithful situated on the other side of the fence for a three-goal lead.

Berrigan had its moments, but when Taijan Ussher impressively slotted home a long-angled set shot midway through the last, everything needed to go right for the minor premiers.

Jett Bamford’s classy snap off a turnover inside 50 was a firm final blow, the Bears going on to lift the cup courtesy of a 9.8 (62) to 3.6 (24) win.

The result marked heartbreak in back-to-back deciders for Berrigan, having been undone by a single point in last year’s grand final against Jerilderie.

Bears co-coach Shannon Doyle was ecstatic at what her side could achieve as a collective.

“I just couldn’t be prouder. I pretty much told the boys we knew we were capable and they just had to go play their game,” Doyle said.

“They played it and we didn’t let Berrigan get in our heads and we got across the line; it probably helps that we’ve got a few that have been with us for six years.”

“I find in this league you’ve normally only got four or five top age kids who dominate the ground and we’ve got eight or nine.

“That’s no discredit to your younger ones either as they played their role too. I can’t fault anyone who played today.

“I believe they’re a true team, and the way they play together is outstanding. It’s all about being one.”

Ussher ruled the day on the scoreboard for Tungamah with four goals, while Caleb Anderson, Jack Magill and Jordan Swann found singles for the Saints.

Billy Doyle, with three of his own, was duly awarded his recognition as best afield in what turned into a powerful win.

“These sort of situations bring the best out of Billy,” Doyle said.

“He loves centre stage and he loves the pressure.

“He always goes harder and harder to get the job done, and these situations are what he plays footy for.”