The flagpole at the Devils' lair has the division 2 flag flapping from it after North Footscray ended a 27-year drought to be crowned champions on Sunday. Weekly sports reporter Lance Jenkinson and photographer Michael Copp braved the elements at Chirnside Park to witness another great chapter in the Western Region Football League.NORTH Footscray has executed a great heist to land its first senior flag since 1983.
The mischievous Devils stole the Western Region Football League division 2 premiership cup from the clutches of arch-rivals Parkside Magpies with an exhilarating last-quarter performance.
Staring a 22-point three-quarter-time deficit in the face in four-seasons-in-a-day conditions at Chirnside Park, Werribee, on Sunday, the Devils simply refused to surrender.
They overcame the odds on the back of superior fitness and strong self-belief.
"We were still in striking distance and that's where we wanted to be at three-quarter time," Devils coach Ross Hedley said.
"We knew if we hung in there, our fitness would push them over the line.
"It's just a feeling of relief and satisfaction because you know how hard the boys have worked to get it."
The Magpies' "big three", Nathan Juegan, Chris Muratore and Peter Krueger, hit the ground running in the first quarter.
Their influence was crucial as the opening two goals went to the Magpies from set shots to Krueger and forward livewire Matt Burrows.
The Magpies dominated the opening term to take an eight-point lead into quarter-time.
Trent Tyrell was everywhere, winning possession forward, back and through the midfield to penetrate with his long, raking left foot.
The Devils' start was lethargic.
They were uncharacteristically riddled with skill errors.
Not until forward pocket Daniel Neville majored midway through the opening term did the Devils settle into some semblance of the football that saw them take the minor premiership.
"We were tackling and chasing," Hedley said. "It was more our usage of the ball that let us down early."
As bad as the Devils' foot disposal was in the first quarter, the Magpies' shooting for goal was just as poor. Their return of 4.6 after controlling the first term was not what they were after.
There was a tougher, more accountable edge to the Devils in the second quarter.
Two goals apiece, and the Magpies' lead had eroded by just one point to seven at half-time.
The alarm bells were ringing in the Devils' coaches' box. They saw Juegan - the long-sleeved, big-bodied Magpies onballer - standing between the Devils and a flag.
The Devils' designated captain Mick Drew a run-with role in the hope of cutting Juegan's production. It worked enough to suggest the head-to-head battle over the final hour of the match could be adjudged honours even.
The Magpies extended their lead to 22 points at three-quarter-time as defenders Darcy Dunstan, Drew Vincent and John Eastoe proved nigh on impossible to penetrate. But there were signs of tiredness starting to creep into the Magpies. A long and tough finals campaign was starting to take its toll at the worst possible time.
Signs of a miraculous Devils comeback and cracks in the Magpies' armor were found in the opening 10 minutes of the last quarter.
Three Devils goals in succession in that period before a string of behinds saw them in front for the first time at the 17-minute mark.
The mosquito fleet of three-goal forward Neville, best-on-ground midfield/forward Sam Kater and crumber Chris Aspiotis were at their menacing best.
The Magpies pegged back a goal from a 50-metre penalty to Joe Jamieson.
Their progress was halted by some tired disposal inside 50 and a Devils' defensive wall in the last five minutes before the siren beat them.
SCOREBOARD
Grand final:
North Footscray 11.13 (79) d Parkside 10.14 (74)
North Footscray - Goals: D. Neville 3, S. Kater 2, B. Lucas 2, S. Eldridge, R. Davis, M. Lanciana, C. Aspiotis. Best: S. Kater, S. Devlin, N. Richardson, S. Eldridge, P. MacZohan, D. Neville
Parkside - Goals: M. Burrows 2, A. El Hawli 2, N. Juegan 2, P. Krueger, T. Tyrrell, J. Jamieson, M. Khartabil. Best: N. Juegan, T. Tyrell, M. Burrows, J. Storey, C. Thompson, C.Muratore
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