RALPH'S NEW ROLE
O'Shaughnessy is Xavs' Footy GM
The drought is over. Eleven months without an Old Xaverians premiership and three years of Crocodile futility came to a close as Ciaran "Kyron" Nolan's Lime Sox won the Club XVIII premiership at Elsternwick Park today.
The Crocs opened into the wind and asserted early superiority. The 300 gamer David Landrigan threaded the eye of the needle to kick Xavs' first, but it was tough going against a determined South Mornington outfit. The Tigers slotted one just before the quarter time break to take a narrow lead.
The second term saw the Crocs fail to capitalise on the wind advantage, but turned the narrow deficit into a small surplus by the half. The third term saw Xavs again stifle the Tigers and hold them close. At the lemons, the Tigers led by a goal.
The rain came at the start of the final term, and four minutes in, the scores hadn't changed. South Mornington were still very hard at the contest, but then the Crocs bared their teeth. The leveller, the go-ahead goal and then a stunner from David Landrigan, who turned back the clock fifteen years with his famous closing speed, a hard ball get and a super snap.
Eleven minutes gone, and the Crocs appeared home. But there was more magic to come. Another six goals in the remaining twelve minutes saw the margin blow to 47 points.
Al Wood, who booted five, won the King-Landrigan Medal and deservedly so. But there were heroics all over the field from the Reptile players. They might wear green sox, but it is the other clubs that are green with envy.
Old Xaverians 2.0.12 5.4-34 5.4-34 14.4-88
South Mornington 3.3.21 4.4-28 6.4-40 6.5-41
Goal Kickers: A. Wood 5, D. Landrigan 3, H. Healey 2, B. Corcoran 2, M. Walsh, S. Adams
Best Players: A. Wood, M. Walsh, T. Trahair, D. Hansen, James Smith, Josh Smith