A PREMIERSHIP medal, best-on-ground and four goals from the midfield made for a memorable Loddon Valley league grand final day for Calivil United’s Luke Marchesi on Saturday.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Marchesi was awarded the AFL Victoria Country Medal in the Demons’ 13.16 (94) to 8.12 (60) victory over Bridgewater at Serpentine.
“It’s an unreal feeling to get the win today,” Marchesi said after the game.
“At three-quarter-time we had wrestled the momentum back and we were able to keep it going in the last quarter.”
Marchesi kicked the Demons’ only three goals of the first half, and added a fourth during the third quarter as part of a run of 10 in a row when Calivil United took control of the contest.
He had enough opportunities to kick seven goals, with one of his misses the opening score of the game when he hit the post.
“I tried to sneak down the forward line whenever I could and luckily enough, a few fell my way,” said Marchesi, whose four goals were a season high.
Marchesi is in his second year at Calivil United after joining the Demons from Strathfieldsaye.
“A few things weren’t going my way in there with some injuries, so I thought I’d make a fresh start and this is obviously fantastic to be part of,” Marchesi said.
As well as Marchesi’s four goals, the Demons also had Bryce Curnow (three), coach Anthony Dennis (two) and Lachlan O’Neil (two) kick multiples.
Meanwhile, Saturday’s team featured only one player – Caleb Smith – from the last Calivil United side to win a premiership in 2008 when the Demons defeated Pyramid Hill by 68 points.
Smith didn’t play in the 2010 grand final debacle when Bridgewater annihilated the Demons by 115 points to kickstart the first of its seven flags in a row.
However, Walter Miller, Evan Ritchie, Henry Miller, Jordan Lea and Alex Davis did and on Saturday – seven years later – they finally got their revenge.
• The premiership team – Anthony Dennis (coach), Ben Knight (captain), Alex Davis, Blair Richards, Bryce Curnow, Caleb Smith, Chris Down, Evan Ritchie, Henry Miller, Jonas Somerville, Jake Lawry, Jordan Lea, Lachlan McAllister, Lachlan O’Neil, Levi Moss, Luke Marchesi, Matt Magee, Mitch Brewer, Nathan Ryan, Sam Brinsmead, Vinny Rodi, Walter Miller.
Click here for links to photos and coverage from the day.
