Football
16 September, 2024
Saints under-14 footballers claim surprise premiership
Edenhope Apsley has defeated top team Noradjuha Quantong in the 2024 Horsham District Football Netball League under-14s grand final, winning by 22 points.
Noradjuha Quantong finished on top of the ladder and were aiming for back-to-back premierships, and the Saints stunned them early, kicking three goals to one to lead by 13 points at quarter-time.
In the second quarter, the Bombers had seven shots on goal but could only convert one, with the Saints converting their only two shots to lead by 13 points at half-time.
The Bombers came out fighting hard in the third, but the Saints held them at bay, kicking another two goals to one to lead by 19 points heading into the last break.
The Bombers couldn't convert their three shots on goal in the last, and the Saints kicked the only goal of the quarter to run out 8.3.51 to 3.11.29 winners.
Marcus McIntyre kicked three goals and was awarded best on the ground. Benjimin Mur was the other multiple scorer for the Saints.
Levi Linto, Thomas Dunstan, Ajay Lees, Lincoln Keatley, and William Dubois were all among the Saints' best players.
Jake Ellis, Archie Hogan and Judd Oakley kicked the three goals for the Bombers. Jake Ellis, Fletcher Hawken, Jett Rowe and Peter Smith were among their best players.
For Saints coach Allan McIntyre, it was his first premiership, and he was thrilled with how the boys responded, especially with the interruption at the start of the year with off-the-field issues, mainly from the AFL's age-limit rule change.
"That stuff at the start of the year put doubt in their mind that we could get a side together, but as the year progressed, we were able to get a lot of talent in the side, and they played together and worked well and deserve this premiership," McIntyre said.
"It's a little surreal that we won. It's a goal you set each year, and it feels different when you reach it.
"We finished third on the ladder, had to play every finals game, and came up against knockout pressure.
"We had some good momentum coming in, and the game against Laharum was a close game, and it could have gone either way. In the game against Kalkee, we came from behind to win, so it gave the boys confidence and belief."