Imperials, Southerners take home LSWFL Premierships

It was nail-biting conclusion to the end of the LSWFL on Saturday when Imperials defeated top-of-the-ladder Deanmill for a league finishing score of 14.6 (90) to 12.16 (88).

It was Imperials’ Austin Styles who calmly delivered the winning goal as the final siren sounded.

The highlight reel will be etched with significant performances, especially that of the Harvey Giblett Medal winner Styles, who led the Magpie side to victory with a sensational seven-goal haul including the winning major.

His performance featured some classic overhead marking and on strong leads, received some wonderful passing from a midfield brigade who dominated all day.

Deanmill will surely lament a missed opportunity to add to their glorious Premiership count with a Grand Final display that was punctuated by consistent inaccuracy on goal in which they conjured up eight more scoring shots but could not close out the game.

The Hawks’ drive was left to too few with Jaxon East (5 goals), Brodie Reeve, Joshua Reeve, Kester Decke and Connor De Campo giving valiant contributions, but they lacked support from the usual core of prime movers who did not deliver in the last game of the season.

In the reserves game, Imperials bested Deanmill to the tune of 14.6(90) to 10.5 (65).

The Imperials’ victory was just reward for enduring coach Alan Giblett, who has associated with the Reserves for a long period and to be able regroup his playing list for a Grand Final victory is testament to his resilience.

In the early going it was apparent the Magpies’ machine was going to present the Hawks with solid opposition, a fact realised with the Magpies sliding through the opening three majors.

Facing a significant challenge, the Hawks pressed in an enterprising second term and with Rory Sparks, Brandt Pears and Robert Cross becoming more mobile went forward to roll through five majors to remain in contention.

Although the Hawks threatened a late comeback, Ipsen, Foley and Daube ensured the Magpies would hold firm for a deserved long overdue Grand Final triumph.

In the colts Grand Final, Southerners continued their finals form to claim a 51-point victory over Bridgetown with a final score of 11.10 (76) d 3.7 (25).

Souths’ charge to the Grand Final clearly built around some structured play, especially in the centre square where they have eclipsed all sides in the clearances, a detail the Bulldogs were on the end of throughout the contest.

Kye Jasper, who claimed best afield, worked hard around the ground and his delivery to his forwards was particularly damaging.

The Bulldogs were under defensive pressure from the outset and despite numerous changes in an effort to calm the scoreboard carnage, they simply could not compete against a more skilled and efficient Southerners outfit.

Alexander Stuart, Jack Mitchell and Jack Pickering were valiant for the Bulldogs but without support could not stop a Southerners outfit that was far superior on the day.