Dalyston premiers

First flag since 1989

DALYSTON ended a 26 year drought by winning Saturday’s Alberton Football Netball League senior premiership at Meeniyan on Saturday in perfect conditions for football and spectators alike.

Over 4,400 people paid $29, 636 at the gate with the crowd arriving early in the day and enjoying the hospitality of the MDU Football Netball Club who are to be congratulated on for delivering a perfect venue for the occasion.

The junior football and netball kicked off early with Inverloch-Kongwak fourths proving too strong for the young Fish Creek team who gave it all they had but were well beaten in the end.

Dalyston thirds won a nail biter in the thirds over Inverloch-Kongwak with this game probably the best game of the day. The skills of some of these youngsters was great to watch.

The reserves game followed and again this was close all match with Phillip Island reversing the second semi final result over Dalyston to win by four points.

This year’s senior league best and fairest winner Brendan Kimber was presented to the crowd and received his trophy and Peter Moore medal from Peter’s grand-daughter Sarah Kidd at half time of the match. Brendan was not able to be at the presentation night, so it was good for him to be recognised as the league’s best and fairest player.

Prior to the senior match between Dalyston and Fish Creek both sides lined up, along with the A grade netball teams Korumburra and Dalyston for the National Anthem sung by Leongatha’s Jamie Gordon.

After the ground was cleared of all and sundry, the senior match got underway and Dalyston kicked three early goals which seemed to stun the crowd and you could have heard a pin drop as it appeared a one-sided match was developing.

To Fish Creek’s credit they fought back and were only five points down at quarter time and atmosphere had returned.

In the end Dalyston did run all over the young Fish Creek side, which most football pundits expected.

Dalyston’s Brad Fisher was awarded both the umpires award and the Bill Pollock medal for being best afield.

There was a big crowd watching the netball games all day with Korumburra-Bena winning the A grade over Dalyston by four goals, while Korumburra-Bena defeated Inverloch-Kongwak by seven in B grade. Dalyston were too strong over Korumburra-Bena in C grade to win by 11 goals.

In the junior games, Fish Creek defeated IK by 10 goals in the 17 & unders, while IK defeated MDU by four goals in the 15s & unders. Dalyston had an exciting one point win over IK in the 13s & unders.

The league were able to do the presentations after all matches in a quick and orderly manner which allowed the next games to move on quickly. The league’s board led by John Schelling and Alberton FNL Administrator Lynn Whelan certainly did a great job of running the day.

Bring on 2016.

• Fish Creek supporters, some pictured above, went into last Saturday’s Alberton Football Netball League’s grand finals at Meeniyan full of enthusiasm with their senior and fourths football teams and 17 & under netball girls in action. Unfortunately for them only the girls brought home the cup, while their footballers found Dalyston too strong in both matches. Dalyston seniors won their first flag since 1989, a 26 year drought being broken.

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