Saturday’s YVMDFL Division Two grand finals proved a roller-coast of emotion for supporters of the Yarra Glen Football Club. The club’s reserves team were devastated when they fell a goal short against Seville. After the siren the pain of defeat was etched on the faces of players such as Liam Bull, right. However, it was a different story for the seniors, above, who celebrated long into the night after accounting for Yarra Junction. By Kath Gannaway
YARRA Glen Football Club has felt the pride and pain of the grand finals as its senior side won in spectacular style while its reserves were pipped to the post.
The seniors’ victory has capped a sensational year as they won the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League Division 2 grand final.
Traditional ‘mad Monday’ celebrations were in full swing yesterday for the club which pulled itself up by the boot straps to see their seniors, reserves and Under 18s make it through to the finals.
While there was disappointment early in the day at Gembrook as the reserves went down to Seville in a nail-biting five point contest, the seniors claimed the 2010 premiership, their first in almost a decade.
Thunder president Mark Mays said the 2010 premiership flag, and the club’s success this year, were down to hard work and a will to win.
“The boys have been very disciplined this year under Dean (coach Dean de Munk) and it’s just a fantastic result,” he said.
The premiership is a first for de Munk as a coach, though he has played in premiership teams during his playing and coaching days at Healesville.
He said Yarra Glen had winners all over the ground.
“You are never going to win a grand final with five or six players.
“We had 21 committed players and that’s why we won by nine goals,” he said as players and support-team re-grouped at Healesville’s Grand Hotel on Monday for what was almost certainly not their final grand final celebration.
