LSWFL 2016 grand final: Southerners beat Imperials by 50 points

Both teams looked nervous early with each missing set-shot opportunities. It took a great steal at half forward from Viv Blurton to give Nathan Meehan Southerners’ first goal of the game. 

A scramble in Southerners’ goal square a minute later gave them a second with a neat soccer off the ground. The behinds continued to flow for both sides before Chris Franklin kicked Imperial’s first goal. 

A cracking set shot from 45 metres out by Shane Bendotti at the end of the first term saw Southerners leading 3.4.22 to 2.5.17. 

Southerners increase the lead early in the second term with Brett Dobson curling a ball with the breeze for his first goal of the game. 

A clash of heads forced Imperials’ Adam Dehring off with a blood rule moments before Rohan Lilly goaled for the Magpies. 

Dobson kicked a second and Chris Franklin responded for Imperials to see Southerners with a ten point advantage at half time 5.9.39 to 4.5.29. 

Blurton increased the lead to 16 points with Southerners’ first goal of the third term before Clinton Zabaznow sealed a great goal for Imperials on a strong angle from 35 metres out. 

The tempo of the game lifted with Dobson kicking a third. With Southerners threatening to blow the game apart, Imperials’ Nathan Bradbury goal ahead of Zabaznow on the siren, trimming the three-quarter time margin to four points 7.10.52 to 7.6.48.

With the game there for the taking, it was Southerners’ Leigh Scaini who stood up to be counted. 

With the ground becoming increasingly wet and treacherous, Southerners piled on 7.5.47 to a single point with Scaini kicking four majors to help his side run away with the flag 14.15.99 to 7.7.49.

The final siren bought with it heartbreak for the minor premiers who clearly felt the pain of a grand final loss in their centenary year. 

At the other end of the ground, the siren marked the first Southerners flag since 2011. 

Southerners player and assistant coach Thomas Collins was presented the Harvey Giblett medal as best-on-ground during the grand final.

Earlier in the day, Deanmill claimed the 2016 reserves flag with a 10.10.70 to 4.8.32 win over Southerners. 

The Hawks kept Southerners goalless in the second half while Brendan Davis topped the goal scorers’ list for Deanmill with three majors. 

Deanmill also won the colts flag with a 17 point win over Imperials. 

Liam Hodgkin and Jared Edgar both kicked three for the Hawks in the 9.10.64 to 7.5.47 victory.