The Balmain Dockers had led the competition for most of the year in a sparkling performance, having finished bottom in 2010. Their infusion of former Swans players, plus pin-point recruiting from other clubs, had created a side which certainly threatened to take the title in what would have been a fairy tale performance for them.
East Coast, on the other hand, was heading into its fifth grand final in six years and the finals experience they already had was significant. Amongst the 22 players who took the field, there were 39 previous grand final appearances between them since 2006. Add in the guile and skills of Glenn Garner and his coaching staff and the Eagles presented a formidable combination to the Dockers.
However, no one anticipated the quality and class of the Eagles’ first quarter. Right from the first bounce when the centre clearance went directly inside the East Coast forward 50 and Steve O’Connor kicked truly, the Eagles demonstrated that nerves weren’t going to be a factor for them today. Amazingly, another eight goals were slotted through to effectively end any hope of an enchanted end of the season for the Dockers.
Stephen Doyle ran riot up front after a strategic decision to start the League’s leading goalkicker Jamie Vlatko in the ruck. Balmain took some time to realign their back six to counter Doyle’s explosive start where he marked at will, often totally uncontested. He should have had five for the quarter, but was off line on several occasions. Could he kick 10? But as Eagles’ chairman Gus Seebeck remarked at quarter time, “It’s hard to kick 10 in a grand final”.
In the second quarter, the Eagles kicked with the slight breeze to the railway end and, with the East Coast midfield clearing the ball at will, it became a procession to the goalmouth. Balmain managed two goals in this quarter to go into the long break 70 points adrift of the all-conquering Eagles.
Plenty of debate went on in the stands at three-quarter-time after a four-goal quarter from the Dockers. Did East Coast take their foot of the gas in the third term, when for the first time for years they failed to kick a goal in a quarter? Or were Balmain on the comeback trail of all time? Eight scoring shots to two had seen the Dockers claw back 26 points of the deficit. Could they go on with it in the last? That question was answered very quickly when Daniel Spiteri nailed a long drop punt 20 seconds into the last quarter to split the centre after which the Eagles’ faithful rejoiced in the stands.
The final siren announced a 43-point victory to the Sydney Hills based East Coast Eagles. It was their third successive premiership and the “three-peat” was sweet indeed for all concerned. Twenty-year-old Jack Dimery won the Rod Podbury Medal as best on the ground in a magnificent performance which truly demonstrated his massive heart and devotion to the Eagles.
As with Rowan Bilkey, Ben Physick, Ryan Fitton, Jon Vlatko, Daniel Spiteri and Shane Ryan, it was Jack’s third premiership medal. Well played indeed to each of these long term Eagles.
The last three years have been phenomenal for East Coast. However, they now enter the unchartered waters of the NEAFL and the journey begins again at this level. It won’t be easy, but they will be competitive there and also in the AFL Sydney competition where they will again be fielding a team at Premier Division level.
It will, however, be without Ben Physick and Shane Ryan who announced their retirements at the Premiership after party. Club games record holder Physick and the courageous midfielder Ryan will be sorely missed and the club sincerely thanks and congratulates them on their wonderful careers with the East Coast Eagles.
Maybe the last word should go to Michael Shillito from www.redandwhiteonline.com who covered the game for that website:
“East Coast Eagles for years have been the benchmark club in the Sydney AFL. This was their fifth grand final in the last six years and the Eagles were going for the premiership three-peat. Well run on and off the field, with a top class facility at Bruce Purser Reserve, the Eagles went into the grand final as the hottest of favourites.
"As their team song suggests, they’re a happy team at East Coast and with a premiership three-peat they have plenty to be happy about. A blistering first half had secured this flag and although it took some time to secure the minor premiership, the Eagles had been easily the best team in the competition this season.
"When they are on a roll, they are close to unstoppable, as shown by their percentage of 230 during the regular season. For years, taking the final step to the premiership had been beyond them, but since they broke through in 2009, the premiership drought has become a flood.”
East Coast Eagles 9.4 14.7 14.9 17.12 (114)
Balmain Dockers 1.1 3.3 7.7 10.11 (71)
Goals
East Coast: Jamie Vlatko 4, S Doyle 4, S O’Connor 3, D Spiteri 2, R Silvester, R Bilkey, M Maher, D Costello.
Balmain: M Edwins 2, J Saddington 2, N Davis 2, D Yeomans, T Osland, J Coulloupas, J Howard.
Best
East Coast: J Dimery, Jamie Vlatko, S Doyle, D Spiteri, R Bilkey, B Bourke.
Balmain: T Stevens, R Bates, J Maniscalco, J Coulloupas, R Lilly, J Farrell.
