After two years of missing out, the South West Landmark Carnival team has taken out the Division One premiership.
Taking advantage of Claremont Oval’s stellar turf, Avon looked set to give the South West a tight contest.
Garrick Mclaughlin slotted the side’s first, before the team’s midfielders fought to increase their lead.
Minutes later, South West fans celebrated as Leigh Kohlmann closed the gap with his first of two goals for the game.
From that point on, South West dominated the majority of play and left Avon in the dust.
Goals to Jace Cormack and Bailey Sanford pushed South West’s lead out to 13 midway through the first term.
South West back Kane Bumann prevented Avon from slotting their second, before a snap kick from Sean Lynch widened their margin just before the siren.
In cruise control at quarter time, South West needed to maintain their form and continually find players up forward.
Avon refused to give up, with fast play leading to Daniel Curtis’s goal in the second term.
Their run, however, was short lived, as South West star Guy Piggott responded with his first and only goal.
As the ground showed increased wear and tear, both teams were unable to hold onto the ball or kick up the ground.
The South West side looked set to secure another premiership, providing plenty of smothers and tackles to prevent Avon’s attempts at goal.
Avon’s form picked up late in the second quarter, with players finding space around the ground and capitalising on South West’s errors.
Kohlmann’s second goal was enough to extend South West’s margin to 24 at half time.
The favourites were dealt a cruel blow before the siren, as Mason Hislop was stretchered from the ground following a wayward mark attempt.
With South West eager to continue their form, and Avon attempting to close the gap, both teams became more aggressive in the second half.
Avon’s backline worked overtime to prevent South West’s shots at goal from flying through the posts.
At the other end of the ground, South West captain Mat Michael was effective in continually clearing the ball out of Avon’s forward 50.
In a moment of brilliance, South West’s Jay Wright was handed a free kick following an impressive tackle on Avon’s Glenn Smith.
Jesse Crichton’s first of two goals saw South West hold onto a convincing 7.4.46 to 2.4.16 lead at the final change.
Things went from bad to worse for Avon, as Lynch and Dylan Heasman assisted with South West’s eighth goal of the match.
After an accurate kick from Avon’s Robert Forrest, the side’s defenders valiantly stopped several attempts from the South West.
Crichton’s second ensured a 9.6.60 to 3.4.22 win to South West, bringing the premiership back to the region for the first time since 2015.
Cormack picked up the Overall Best and Fairest award, while Crichton was given Best on Ground for his performance on Sunday.
In Saturday’s exhibition match, the South West women’s squad delivered a crushing 13.6.84 to 1.2.8 win over the Regional All-stars.
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