The Roosters have at last claimed a Northern Areas Football Association premiership on their seventh attempt since winning their last title in 1992.
Led by a best-on-ground performance from Steve ‘Mus’ Merkel – a survivor from the ‘92 side – who kicked six goals coming off a wing, Crystal Brook was able to hold off every challenge that Southern Flinders threw down.
In front of more than 7000 people the Tigers had first use of a stiffening breeze and so it was a surprise to see them start with dominant forward John McKenna on the full back line next to veteran Rooster Damien ‘Joel’ Head.
The game was less than 60-seconds old when 2008 Mail medallist Matt Woolford chimed in with the opening goal of the grand final off a pot-shot that had class-act written all over it.
A few minutes later Scotty Mazzone and Cody Turner combined to send Darryl Boylan in for the second major score.
The Roosters opened their account through Josh ‘Tacker’ Gale whose mark and goal from inside 50 was a beauty.
Rhys Stanbridge got it back with a flashy but effective kick around the corner and then tragedy struck for Southern Flinders as Woolford went down with a dislocated shoulder and was immediately assisted off the ground by trainers Chris Boylan and Miranda Tenney.
The black and golds were not the same after that and a sensational goal to Jamie Kemp put Crystal Brook in front 4.0 to 3.1.
Ben Brown scored for Southern Flinders but it was Crystal Brook who went up a cog and by half time they held a comfortable seven-goal lead.
By the start of the third quarter the breeze was unbelievable and Southern Flinders loved every minute of it, bombing nine goals from all over the ground.
McKenna was returned to the forward line and he sent Turner in for an easy six-pointer to get things rolling. Scott Brand was next to line up and he scored from way out on the member’s wing thanks to Ben Brown who supplied the Sherrin.
Then Cam Edson gave one a ride from the netball court flank and when Brand banged his second it was suddenly a 19-point deficit and closing fast.
Two glaring errors from the Southern Flinders defence allowed Crystal Brook to goal into the wind through Kemp and Matt Gale but the Southern Flinders players refused to lie down.
Unanswered goals to Brett Ballantyne, McKenna and Brand brought the visitors back into contention.
Garry Hull - who played a good game in the pivot for four quarters - had an opportunity when he unloaded a kick from the centre of the ground but it missed to the right for a behind.
He made up for it minutes later after McKenna bagged Southern Flinders’ 14th goal and Hull kicked the goal of the day with a bomb from way behind the centre circle.
The Tigers were in front but their moments of jubilation were short-lived in the final term as Crystal Brook went on a rampage to kick eight unanswered goals.
By mid term the Tigers were staring at an inevitable defeat at the hands of a vastly superior opponent and they slowed to a canter in the face of a red and white surge that crushed anything that got in its way.
Well done to both teams who managed to play sustained attractive footy in trying conditions.
Crystal Brook’s best players list was headed by Steve ‘Mus’ Merkel who banged five first half goals to top-score with a match-high six after starting on a wing.
Skipper Matty Coates and Matt Jackman across half back, rover Jason ‘Jack’ Cousins, Matt Gale on a wing, and centre half forward James Wardle (three goals) were all major contributors. Jamie Kemp kicked five goals and Josh Gale kicked four.
Best for Southern Flinders started with captain/coach Scott Brand (three goals) who led from the front either roaming inside or on-ball.
Centreman Garry Hull had plenty of it and young defender Rhys Millington was lively over the course of the match. Jeremy Edson, Scott Mazzone and Michael Gaunt had good games while Brett Ballantyne, John McKenna and Hull kicked two goals each.
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