PDL | Gallery | ‘It’s as much about us as it is about the whole community’: Waaia breaks premiership drought

The Bombers stormed to a Picola District Football League grand final victory against Tungamah on Saturday, proving a class above at a wet and windy Katunga Recreation Reserve.

From start to finish the red and black had their foot on the accelerator, ending the game strong to run out 13.15 (93) to 7.6 (48) winners.

In the first quarter the Bears were on top, coming back from two goals down to hold a seven-point lead at the first break, however, things changed in the second.

When the teams broke their huddles for the second quarter Waaia came out hungry, with Jessie Trower slotting a major, before another Bombers goal had them hit the front.

Soon after, Tungamah got the scores back level, before Waaia’s Rob Osborne produced a Tim Cahill-esque volley to push the Bombers’ lead out further later in the term.

Holding a 10.6 (66) to 6.2 (38) buffer at the main break, the game was Waaia’s to lose, with an arm wrestle of a third quarter growing the margin to 34 at the last break.

Two more Osborne majors in the last quarter got the party started for the Bombers, with the side cruising to a famous victory.

Ruckman Ash Holland added to his league best-and-fairest medal by picking up a best-on-ground gong, with the talent providing plenty of possession to his midfielders.

Speaking post game, Waaia coach Mark Meyland said “he couldn’t be happier” with the result.

“As far as footy goes this is the ultimate goal, we achieved it, which is fantastic,” Meyland said.

“It’s as much about us as it is about the whole community, I think we really needed it.

“It’s really nice just to finish the work, we were primed, ready to go and I’m not surprised that we’ve taken it home because we were so ready.”

Waaia’s constant hunger for the ball showed throughout the game, with ruckman Holland feeding his midfield brigade.

This control of the ball was key for the Bomber’s victory, with Meyland saying the strategy was deliberate.

“Tungamah are obviously a great side, so they’re probably not used to not having the ball in their hands for long periods and that’s what we tried to do to them,” he said.

“We tried to make them chase us for a while and it tended to work and then eventually we got hungry for the ball and then we hit the scoreboard, so it all worked hand in hand.”

Saturday’s grand final was Meyland’s last game at the helm of Waaia’s senior side, with the Bombers mentor thanking the league and club for their efforts.

“This is just the icing on the cake for me and I couldn’t be more ecstatic,” he said.

On the other side of the coin it was a disappointing defeat for Tungamah.

Despite the loss, Bears coach Xavier Stevenson said he was proud of his team and the club.

“I said to the boys after the game ‘unfortunately in football there can only be one winner’ and guided off that you’d say that you’re either successful or unsuccessful based off one result,” Stevenson said.

“But I still think we had a successful year, we developed a lot of players, we were able to get seven sides into the grand finals, so the club’s in a really great position.

“Unfortunately Waaia were just too good on the day and credit to them, they played a really good brand of football today and we weren’t able to match them.”

Dylan Scott was named the Bears’ best for his efforts in defence, while Sam Ferguson and Zach Scott also stood out.

For Waaia, Osborne’s six-goal haul had him join Holland in the best, while Jayden Clark and Dyland Cornick performed well.

With a big crowd in attendance, an entertaining game of football and Waaia breaking its premiership drought, it is clear that football is back.

And how good is it.