The Blackwood Football Club has recorded its first victory in the junior colts in over a decade, defeating the Hahndorf Football Club by 14 points last Saturday morning at Lobethal Oval. Coming into the match both sides ranked as the number one and two defensive sides in the competition only conceding a combined average of 21.5 points across the season. From the four matches played between the Woods and the Magpies during the season both teams had won on two occasions with Blackwood losing both matches at Hahndorf Oval but winning games at U-Install-It Kitchens Oval and Balhannah in the semi-final.

Both sides heavily focused on defence during the first half of the Grand Final with one goal scored in the opening two quarters. That goal came through Blackwood leading goal kicker Sam Tonkin in the first quarter. Tonkin had been a strong focal point for the Woods all season kicking 34 majors (1.7 average per game) coming into the match. He had also kicked 12 majors in 10 senior colt games he played during the minor rounds.

With only two points scored during the second period the premiership quarter was shaping up to be a defining quarter. Star Woods player Eduard Van den berg impacted the scoreboard in the third period kicking the Woods second major. Coming into the match Van den berg had played 13 matches being named in the best players 76.9% of the time (10 games), this includes being the best player for the Woods three out of the four times the Woods had played the Magpies. Continuing to maintain a one goal lead at three quarter time, first year coach Matt Waldron issued one last set of inspiring words at the final break. The young Woods stepped on the accelerator in the last quarter with both sides releasing the shackles in a effort to win the match. With the game opened up, both sides hit the scoreboard kicking multiple majors for the quarter. The Woods were able to kick three goals through Aiden Grayson, Mitch Robertson and Sam Tonkin to maintain their advantage in the last quarter and record a historic 14 point victory.

Noah Brown saved his best game of the season for the Grand Final being awarded the best player on the ground in a dominate performance. Alex Strauss, Henry Smith, Van den berg and Mitch Robertson also caught the eye of the coaching panel rounding out the top five players.

Final scoreboard

Blackwood – 1.1 1.2 2.3 5.4 (34)

Hahndorf – 0.0 0.1 1.1 3.2 (20)

Goal kickers – Tonkin 2, Grayson 1, Robertson 1, Van den berg 1

Best players – Strauss, Brown, Smith, Van den berg, Robertson