MITIAMO has become the first team since 2002 to win its way through to the Loddon Valley Football League grand final from the elimination final.
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The Superoos’ red-hot finals form continued on Saturday when they dominated Bears Lagoon-Serpentine after quarter-time to win the preliminary final by 54 points at Marong.
The 20.16 (136) to 12.10 (82) victory was the third cut-throat final the Superoos have won, having also ended the seasons of Pyramid Hill and Calivil United.
Mitiamo will now meet five-time defending premiers Bridgewater in Saturday’s grand final at Newbridge in what will be the first time the clubs have clashed for the flag since 1980.
The last LVFL team to have made the grand final from the elimination final was YCW 13 years ago.
The grand final berth follows three lean years for the Superoos, who in the previous three seasons had won just nine of 48 games.
“It’s exciting for the club, there’s no doubt about that,” Mitiamo coach Denis Grinton said.
“For a side that was getting smashed only two years ago, it shows that you can turn things around.”
Earlier this year the Superoos looked anything but a grand final-quality side in round two when they were beaten by Inglewood by four points in what was the Blues’ only win of the season.
The Superoos broke Saturday’s game open with a blistering second term when they piled on nine goals to three to turn what had been a one-point deficit at quarter-time into a 39-point buffer at half-time.
“The second quarter – and the whole game – was just built on an even team effort,” Grinton said.
“If you can look at your side after the game and see that everyone has played their role and contributed, that’s what you need to win finals.”
While it was an even team effort from the Superoos, their best players featured ruckman Michael I’Anson, who also pushed forward to kick four goals, utility Luke Lougoon, Dougie Thomas and Terry Reeves (three goals) through the midfield and Jarad Webster in defence.
The Superoos spread the load inside 50 with 12 goalkickers.
Darren Walsh and Matthew Davidson kicked three goals apiece for the Bears, who fell short in their bid to play in a third-consecutive grand final.
Half-back Andrew Gladman, key defender Daniel Hayes, Trevor Johnson (two goals), consistent midfielder Nathan McNally and Jarrod Kayler-Thomson were the best players for the Bears.
