Ararat completed a perfect under 14 season on Saturday, recording a resounding grand final win over Horsham.
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The Rats went into the game as firm favourites and quickly proved why, kicking the first goal of the game in the first minute.
That set the tone of the match, with Horsham unable to match it with the Rats after that.
Ararat kicked five goals to two in the first half to lead by 22 points at the main break.
“It was a contest early on,” Rats coach Tim Shea said.
“Our on-ballers were fantastic all game and really helped us get on top early.”
The weather started to heat up and so did play on the field in the third term, with Horsham becoming frustrated as Ararat continued to control the game.
“They probably got a bit frustrated and our blokes kept rebounding off half back and kept possession,” Shea said.
The flood gates opened in the final quarter, Ararat booting four more goals to keep Horsham goalless in the second half. Ararat won the grand final 10.7 (67) to 2.1 (13).
“We never gave in and had our best four quarter effort of the season,” Shea said.
Jordan Cox had five goals for the Rats, while Flynn Toner won the medal for best on ground.
The win completed and undefeated season for the Rats.
“It was just awesome. The boys really deserved it,” Shea said.
“This was two years in the making. A lot of these kids played last year so they have come back as top age and done a great job. I couldn’t be prouder.”
Shea said his side went in slightly nervous with the favourites tag hanging over their head, having seen Richmond lose its AFL preliminary final the night before as favourites.
“I said before the game it didn’t matter that we were undefeated, what happened to Richmond last night proved whoever wants the ball more will win,” he said.
“There was a bit of extra pressure on the team being undefeated but they handled it so well.”
UNDER 17 2018 WIMMERA FOOTBALL LEAGUE GRAND FINAL
Ararat: 2.2, 5.4, 6.5, 10.7 (67)
Horsham: 1.0, 2.0, 2.0, 2.1 (13)
GOALS
Ararat : Jordan Cox 5, Kade Bohner 2, Hayden Dowling 1, Isaac Carra 1, Blake Jamieson 1
Horsham : Ryan Gebert 2
BEST
Ararat : Jordan Cox, Flynn Toner, Henry Shea, Thomas Cousins, Kade Bohner, Leroy Bell
Horsham : Brody Thomas Pope, Jett Hopper, Ryan Gebert, Jack Dalziel, Luca Geue, Max Bunworth