Leopold has claimed consecutive premierships for the first time in the club’s history with a workmanlike 21-point victory over South Barwon in today’s GFNL Grand Final at GMHBA Stadium.
In perfect conditions – a contrast to the windswept finals series clubs had endured this September – the Lions overcame a dogged Swans outfit to win 12.11 (83) to 9.8 (62) in front of a crowd of over 10,000 people.
The result marked the perfect sendoff for Leopold coach Garry Hocking, who announced mid-season he would step down from the role.
After falling short of St Mary’s in 2022, the Lions were too good for South Barwon last year, and they maintained their hold on the Swans this afternoon.
South Barwon settled quickly, with Fraser Fort kicking the contest’s opening goal after outmuscling Harris Jennings at a ruck contest from a boundary throw-in to grab the ball out of the ruck and snap a goal.
However, Jennings snuck forward to take a mark only a couple of minutes later to kick Leopold’s first of the afternoon.
Fellow high-flyer Connor Giddings followed before Frank Fopiani Medal winner Brock Williamson and second semi-final hero Riley Stone pushed the margin to 17 points.
A goal from South small forward Jackson Carmody before the quarter-time siren and majors from Jonty Broughton and Lachie Noble early in the second term – the latter after a courageous mark – gave the Swans an unlikely lead.
However, as the game became more contested, goals became more challenging to find, with Giddings and Billy Ritchie grabbing back the lead for the Lions, who took a nine-point lead into the main break.
The two teams went goal for goal in the opening ten minutes of the third quarter, with goals from Leopold duo Luke Justin and James Edmonds cancelled out by Noble and young Swan Ethan Borys.
There was an 11-minute wait for the next goal, with Lions captain Marcus Thompson extending the buffer to 16 points approaching three-quarter time.
The margin reached 23 points when Edmonds kicked his second goal to start the final term.
South Barwon’s fate appeared to be sealed when Billy Ritchie strolled into an open goal at the 20-minute mark.
However, consecutive goals from Fort and star defender Jack Driver cut the margin to 14 points and ensured the crowd remained on edge during time-on.
But the final say belonged to Leopold, with Jake Pitt taking a chest mark and converting a set shot from 15m.
Williamson won the Frank Fopiani, but Jennings and veteran midfielder Ollie Tate, who is likely headed for retirement, would have been worthy recipients.
Ruck Ben Kellett battled hard all day against Kyle Bumpstead to be listed as the Swans’ best, while Mathieson medalist Doyle Madigan and Harry Cunningham never stopped trying to lift their team.
Leopold will put a fifth senior premiership cup in the trophy cabinet at Memorial Park, joining the Lions two previous GFNL triumphs and its two successes in the Bellarine.
Earlier in the day, South Barwon claimed its second reserve grade premiership in three years with a five-point win over minor premier St Mary’s, 6.4 (40) to 5.5 (35).
And Newtown & Chilwell made it a hattrick of AFL Barwon under-18 Division 1 titles after a goal from a free kick just before the siren gave the young Eagles a three-point win over St Joseph’s, 7.8 (50) to 6.11 (47).
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