Division two grand final victory caps perfect country champs campaign for Ongerup Football Association

Ongerup Football Association withstood a strong challenge in the grand final to claim their first division two title in more than a decade at the Nutrien Ag Solutions Country Football Championships. In Sunday’s division two grand final at the WACA, Ongerup led at every change and fought off a persistent Central Midlands Coastal to win by 16 points and complete a perfect championships after winning all four of their qualifying matches on Friday and Saturday. It was Ongerup’s first division two title since 2011 and follows their most recent grand final success at the championships, winning the division three title back in 2015. Two goals from spearhead Lewis Davis gave Ongerup a seven-point lead after Central Midlands Coastal kicked the first goal of the decider via Michael Entwistle. The sides traded goals in the second quarter but two wonderful snaps from Arron Russell and a clever crumbing goal from Nelson Kent pushed Ongerup’s advantage to 13 points by half-time. Ongerup booted the first three goals of the third, including one in the first minute, and it appeared they were running away with the contest, as Russell took his tally to four and Davis added a third. When Russell snapped his fourth major the margin was 29 points but Central Midlands Coastal stormed back into the game as they willed the ball forward and kicked the next three goals. Cody Juhas capitalised on a defensive blunder, Lachie Glasfurd then found the big sticks and Bill Jones converted from close range to pull the deficit back to 10 points by three-quarter time. Ongerup rose to the occasion in the final term however, Russell kicking a fifth when he was left all alone in the goal square to make the lead 15 points after a run of behinds for both teams. Davis made it even harder when he nailed his fourth and despite a late major from Juhas it was Ongerup who prevailed 10.7 (67) to 7.9 (51). Successful Ongerup coach Chris Walker said his side responded to every challenge thrown at them. “Their outside run was really good and that tested us but we were able to shut it down enough,” Walker said. “Our second quarter was our best and they got a run on in the third but we came out in the last and kicked a couple to put them away. “We mixed well as a team that blends youth and experience. It was good for the younger guys to get a feel of the carnival and what it means and the win is testament to the strength at the top end of the OFA. “Hopefully we can keep it going in future years.” Star midfielder Fraser House was named best on ground in the grand final win, Russell was outstanding with five goals and Davis attracted plenty of attention but added four. Key defender Dean Rintoul was rock-solid across the four quarters while Ethan Caldwell and Campbell Floyd made plenty of intercepts in the back half. Veteran ball winner Luke Bairstow worked tirelessly, while half-forward Jack Carruthers was lively, setting up a number of goals before going off after a heavy hit. Carruthers hurt his ribs in the collision and didn’t return to the field while Ongerup had to deal with a couple of other injury concerns in the grand final. Edward Moir popped his shoulder out, Liam Phillips showed signs of delayed concussion while Rintoul (broken nose) and Floyd (cork) battled on despite injuries.