Devils prevail in a one-point thriller

By Ryan Long.

A stunning performance from Wantirna South in the second half of the Division Two decider saw the Devils knock off the Dockers by a point!

The phrase ‘Instant Classic’ has been floated around quite often this finals series, and it certainly applies to the 2025 Division Two Senior Men’s Grand Final.

Wantirna South on Saturday Afternoon at Walker Park defeated Templestowe 14.12 96 to 14.11 95.

21 minutes into the second term, the Devils were 34 points down, the Dockers having kicked the first eight of ten goals.

It was a third-quarter blitz that set up the club’s seventh senior premiership. In the space of 22 minutes, Wantirna South kicked six unanswered goals to put the side 12 points up at the final change.

A quarter that saw Wantirna South double Templestowe in the Inside 50’s, 20 to 10.

A total of eleven goals were kicked in an epic final term, setting up a grandstand finish.

Brook Kainey kicked his third of the afternoon in the opening minute of the last quarter, before Templestowe skipper Michael Fogarty lifted the group with back-to-back goals.

Three consecutive Wantirna South goals followed as the underdogs put themselves 24 points 13 minutes into the final quarter. At the time, it looked like an almost unbeatable lead, but to Templestowe’s credit, their intensity never dropped, kicking four of the last five goals of the game.

A set-shot from outside the forward 50 arc from Kristian Trkulja put the Dockers within striking range, three points down with minutes remaining.

One moment that will enter Wantirna South folklore is a potential game saving smother by Luke Grima. At the 30-minute mark of the last term, a desperate act from Luke Grima stopped Templestowe’s run through the middle and denied them a big opportunity inside 50.

The final margin was a single point. A fairytale finish for Wantirna South, from a one-win relegation season to the Division Two premiers.

Nathan Denes has been a key reason for the major success of the Devils in 2025, holding their back half together. He was rewarded for his spectacular Grand Final performance with the honours of Best on Ground in the Grand Final.

For Jason Heffernan, the senior coach, has now come full circle at Wantirna South, the 2002 premiership captain is now a premiership coach at the club.