THE undefeated Southern Mallee Giants have done it again.
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The classy Giants showed its usual form in the final quarter of the senior grand final to secure a win against Harrow-Balmoral, 11.14(80)-9.1(55).
The Southern Roos put up a gallant fight, making life difficult for the Giants.
Spectators where on edge as the Southern Roos shot to an early lead and managed to maintain it for majority of the first three quarters of the game.
Of course, the Giants were not done yet.
The Giants kicked two key goals as the Southern Roos started to crack under pressure.
Once the Giants tasted its victory it couldn’t get enough, running home to claim its 11.14(80)-9.1(55) win.
The Southern Roos proudly left it all on the field, fighting until the final siren.
Giants coach Geoff Burdett said it was a great feeling to take home the premiership cup.
“When we started this season we didn’t think we’d be having a premiership,” he said.
“We really didn’t.
“We are wrapped that we got there and we are wrapped that we got it.”
Burdett said it was a tight game.
“We had 17 games and 17 wins, if we had’ve lost this one it would have been a tragedy,” he said.
“Harrow-Balmoral are a good side so we were wrapped to have come back, certainly in the second half.
“We played some of the football that we know we can play.
“We had a red hot crack at it and it was a great team effort.”
Burdett said the Giants had a slow start.
“I think we were a little bit flat for a start,” he said.
“Nothing to take away from Harrow-Balmoral though, they were great and they were hard at it.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the Giants.”
Burdett said he will now step down from his coaching position.
“It has been fantastic,” he said.
“I love everyone of the players and the football club.”
Giants’ Haydn Drew received the overall best on ground award.
Harrow-Balmoral coach Paul Cleaver said he was pleased with his team’s efforts.
“We are pleased that we did everything we asked,” he said.
“We wanted to try and come in really early and put the pressure on the Giants.
“They are a pretty slick unit though and played really well.
“I am proud of our boys.”
Cleaver said his side did well to hang on for as long as they did.
“We hung in there with three points at three quarter time we thought we just had to put one good quarter in,” he said.
“We threw everything at it but in the end the weight of four finals in a row might have took its toll.”
Cleaver said he was proud of the Southern Roos’ efforts.
“Even today we never threw the towel in,” he said.
The Southern Roos finished its season in sixth position, working its way to the grand final after an impressive finals series.
The Giants went from strength to strength throughout the season.
Harrow-Balmoral’s backline was key to its efforts as well as Jason McIntosh against Kain Robins and Aaron McDonald on Brock Orval.
Scott Heath had plenty of possessions in the midfield, as did Eric Guthrie across the ground.
“Everyone contributed which is probably why we were still in the position to win at three quarter time but they were the better side in the end,” Cleaver said.
Guthrie, Hamish Ellis, McDonald, Anthony Close, William Plush and Sam Brewer were named as the Southern Roos best.
Haydn Drew, Fabian Dorbolo, Shaun Monohan, Samuel Weddell, Clinton Burdett and Tyler Lehmann were best on ground for the Giants.