Bloods deliver in a Division Four Grand Final classic

In an up-and-down Grand Final from start to finish, Warrandyte have completed a near flawless season with a 15-point victory over a gallant Bulleen Templestowe at East Ringwood Reserve.

Having trailed midway through the final quarter, the Bloods kicked the last three goals of Sunday’s Division 4 decider to claim a 14.9 (93) to 10.18 (78) victory over the Bullants.

It completed a perfect day for the Bloods who also won the Reserves & 19s flags against Kilsyth and the Bullants respectively, a feat they also accomplished back when they won their last senior flag in 2015.

Bloods stalwart Josh Beasley once again played a key role in a finals victory, kicking three goals to win the Best on Ground medal.

Koby Gilmour came up clutch with two go-ahead goals in the last, providing a spark when the Bloods needed one the most.

Harry Taylor’s experience also shone through on the big stage alongside Nick Sharpe who had a solid game in defence alongside Will Nelson.

For the Bullants a fairytale second season ends in heartache having come from a first semi-final to get themselves in a position where they nearly secured a historic first premiership.

The Sticca’s once again had excellent games, with Jake and Josh kicking two goals and one goal respectively while Lachlan’s class shone through alongside his brothers.

Tom Rattray-Wood was also stellar in defence, keeping the division’s leading goalkicker Gabriel Stumpf to one goal whilst repelling many attacks alongside Charles Simonsen.

Rattray-Wood and Simonsen were put under the pump early as the Bloods got an early buffer on the Bullants, kicking the first three goals inside the first six minutes to rush out to an early 19-point advantage.

Bulleen Templestowe then started to settle into the contest, missing some opportunities before kicking a goal early in time on to enter quarter time down by two straight kicks.

They then kicked the opener of the second quarter before Warrandyte once again started to make a move, kicking the next four goals to lead by 30 points heading into time on.

That’s when the Bullants started to explode as they kicked four unanswered goals, the last two of which kicked by  Jake Sticca, to enter half time down by only one straight kick.

Bulleen Temp then quickly erased that deficit to square things up inside the first minute before a pair of behinds saw them lead in the early stages of the second half.

As they started to miss some chances though the Bloods found their radar, kicking three goals from four scoring shots whilst the Bullants kicked a further five behinds to trail at the final change by two goals.

Warrandyte then extended that to 18 points in the opening minute of the last before Daniel Martino and Jack Pekin responded to make it a one kick game once again.

Josh Sticca then gave the Bullants the lead as they looked like they were going to run over the top of a Bloods side who had stagnated midway through the last term.

Then came a spark from Koby Gilmour who kicked two quick goals nearing time on, restoring the Bloods advantage in the dying stages of the Division 4 season.

A late goal then sealed another famous day for the Bloods as they marched to a 16-point victory over a resilient Bullants outfit.