Our Wimmera Football League decade in review series continues with a look back on a drought-breaking decade for the Burras.
Few moments will live longer in the memories of the Minyip-Murtoa faithful than the sight of a sea of blue, black and white engulfing the field, collecting stray revellers and turning the most ardent of neutral fans, as it surged towards a loyal group of players, floored by the occasion.
Unsurprisingly, last season's drought-breaking premiership stands as the highlight of the Burras' decade.
It had been 21 long years since the club last topped the Wimmera Football League, and the celebrations showed just how much it meant to all involved.
"It's unbelievable," coach John Delahunty said after the game.
"The feeling to do it for your home town. The way the club and the team have improved out of sight.
"I'm just so proud of the boys. It's bloody remarkable."
John Delahunty has long led from the front for Minyip-Murtoa, first as a player, then as a captain and premiership coach.
The homegrown Burra has played the most games for the club in the past decade, wasting very few.
Delahunty has racked up the most best player votes for the Burras (six votes for best on ground, five for second etc.), collecting more than 150 votes than the second best vote-getter.
Of his 137 games in the past decade, Delahunty was named in the Burras' best an impressive 61 per cent of the time.
A pair of infamous Minyip-Murtoa names round out the top three vote-getters, in Kade Petering (195) and Kieran Delahunty (181).
Despite the sole premiership to its name, its been a decade of consistent success for the club.
The Burras have made finals in seven seasons - reaching three grand finals - and have won over 60 per cent of the games.
Leading the charge has been a forward line capable of causing damage, and the Burras' current attack might be their best yet.
Current Minyip-Murtoa players Brayden Ison (223) and Jae McGrath (174) are the club's two most prolific goalkickers of the past decade.
Remarkably, Brad Inglis' 45-goal season last year propelled him into the top 10 goalkickers of the decade, as well.
With more than five players featuring in over 100 games for the club in the past decade, the Burras have built a foundation for success.
Though the pandemic may have put on a hold on back-to-back premierships, the future remains bright for the club on the rise.
YEAR-BY-YEAR:
2010
Finished - 7th
Most best player votes: Leonard Clark (68)
Leading goalkicker: Clinton Midgely (35)
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2011
Finished - 6th
Most best player votes: John Delahunty (62)
Leading goalkicker: Clinton Midgely (45)
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2012
Finished - 5th
lost elimination final to Dimboola
Most best player votes: Clinton Midgely (45)
Leading goalkicker: Brayden Ison (32)
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2013
Finished - 5th
lost elimination final to Horsham Saints
Most best player votes: John Delahunty (51)
Leading goalkicker: Brayden Ison (43)
2014
Finished - 4th
lost elimination final to Ararat
Most best player votes: Justin Garth (55)
Leading goalkicker: Clinton Midgely (51)
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2015
Finished - 3rd
lost preliminary final to Horsham
Most best player votes: Kieran Delahunty (47)
Leading goalkicker: Brayden Ison (30)
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2016
Finished - 1st
lost grand final to Horsham Saints
Most best player votes: John Delahunty (44)
Leading goalkicker: Jae McGrath (59)
2017
Finished - 2nd
lost grand final to Horsham
Most best player votes: Oliver Young (45)
Leading goalkicker: Jae McGrath (48)
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2018
Finished - 6th
Most best player votes: Jordan Delahunty (36)
Leading goalkicker: Kieran Delahunty (33)
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2019
Finished - 1st
beat Southern Mallee Giants in grand final
Most best player votes: Jae McGrath (43)
Leading goalkicker: Brad Inglis (48)
BEST PLAYER VOTES:
1 - John Delahunty
Votes: 358
Times in best: 84
% of games in best: 61.31%
Top 3: 57 No.1: 27
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2 - Kade Petering
Votes: 195
Times in best: 51
% of games in best: 41.80%
Top 3: 29 No.1: 11
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3 - Kieran Delahunty
Votes: 181
Times in best: 46
% of games in best: 44.23%
Top 3: 28 No.1: 9
4 - Clinton Midgely
Votes: 179
Times in best: 49
% of games in best: 40.83%
Top 3: 25 No.1: 10
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5 - Brayden Ison
Votes: 129
Times in best: 39
% of games in best: 29.10%
Top 3: 20 No.1: 3
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6 - Luke Chamberlain
Votes: 124
Times in best: 33
% of games in best: 37.50%
Top 3: 20 No.1: 8
7 - Jae McGrath
Votes: 123
Times in best: 34
% of games in best: 49.27%
Top 3: 20 No.1: 7
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8 - Adam Gerdtz
Votes: 111
Times in best: 35
% of games in best: 39.32%
Top 3: 16 No.1: 4
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9 - Angus Trethowan
Votes: 105
Times in best: 33
% of games in best: 25.19%
Top 3: 12 No.1: 5
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10 - Damian Cameron
Votes: 105
Times in best: 32
% of games in best: 39.02%
Top 3: 17 No.1: 6
TOP 10 GOALKICKERS:
1 - Brayden Ison
Goals: 223
High: 8 Games: 134
Average goals per game: 1.64
5+: 9
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2 - Jae McGrath
Goals: 174
High: 8 Games: 69
Average goals per game: 2.52
5+: 13
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3 -Clinton Midgely
Goals: 171
High: 9 Games: 120
Average goals per game: 1.425
5+: 12
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4 - Kieran Delahunty
Goals: 126
High: 9 Games: 104
Average goals per game: 1.21
5+: 5
5 - Angus Trethowan
Goals: 89
High: 4 Games: 131
Average goals per game: 0.68
5+: 0
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6 - John Delahunty
Goals: 62
High: 4 Games: 137
Average goals per game: 0.45
5+: 0
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7 - Nicholas Kelson
Goals: 61
High: 3 Games: 70
Average goals per game: 0.87
5+: 0
8 - Matt Coleman
Goals: 59
High: 5 Games: 75
Average goals per game: 0.78
5+: 1
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9 - Brad Inglis
Goals: 48
High: 7 Games: 16
Average goals per game: 3
5+: 6
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10= - Adam Gerdtz
Goals: 45
High: 3 Games: 89
Average goals per game: 0.51
5+: 0
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10= - Thomas Delahunty
Goals: 45
High: 8 Games: 57
Average goals per game: 0.79
5+: 2
TOP 5 APPEARANCES:
1 - John Delahunty
Games -137
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2 - Brayden Ison
Games - 134
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3 - Angus Trethowan
Games - 131
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4 - Kade Petering
Games - 122
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5 - Clinton Midgely
Games - 120
HEAD-TO-HEAD:
v Ararat
Record - (16-7)
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v Dimboola
Record - (14-8)
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v Horsham
Record - (6-19)
v Horsham United
Record - (8-0)
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v Horsham Saints
Record - (11-14)
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v Nhill
Record - (16-4)
v Southern Mallee Giants
Record - (5-1)
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v Stawell
Record - (18-5)
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v Warrack Eagles
Record - (14-9)
DECADE RECORD:
Played - 175
Won - 108
Lost - 67
Drawn - 0
Winning % - 61.71%
Average for/agst - 1452.5/1139.6
Seasons in finals - 7
Finals record - (6-9)
Premierships - 1 (2019)
League best and fairest winners: 3 (Leonard Clark - 2010, Kieran Delahunty - 2014, Ben McIntyre - 2019)
RESERVES
Played -171
Won - 91
Lost - 79
Drawn - 0
Winning % - 53.21%
Average for/agst - 1171/862.4
Seasons in finals - 5
Finals record - (3-8)
Premierships - 0
League best and fairest winners: 0
UNDER-17'S
Played - 169
Won - 66
Lost - 103
Drawn - 0
Winning % - 39%
Average for/agst - 810.7/1170.5
Seasons in finals - 5
Finals record - (6-6)
Premierships - 0
League best and fairest winners: 1 (Kieran Delahunty - 2010)
WFL DECADE IN REVIEW
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Matt Currill
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
Matt covers the Ballarat Football Netball League and cricket. Get in touch at matt.currill@thecourier.com.au
