Royals secure back-to-back flags and complete perfect season after first half domination of Denmark-Walpole

This year has been less than perfect for many sporting teams and competitions around Australia but for Royals’ league team, Saturday’s grand final victory capped a remarkable few months. The Lions finished the 2020 Great Southern Football League season, shortened due to COVID-19, as premiers to cap a perfect season, having won all 10 home-and-away games and their two finals. They are first team to complete an undefeated season since North Albany in 2005. Not since their dominance of the early 2000s have the Lions been able to win back-to-back GSFL premierships but they started superbly in Saturday’s decider and then withstood a strong challenge from Denmark-Walpole to secure a 44-point triumph. The Lions kicked six unanswered goals in the first half and went in at half-time with one hand on the premiership cup, as the Magpies had barely fired a shot. The Magpies were surprise winners of last week’s preliminary final and their proud group responded in the third term as they trimmed the margin to 17 points and went into the last with a sniff. In the fourth term, the work of Alan Barnett Medal winner Jayson Ford and, arguably the teammate rivalling him for best-afield honours, Declan McNamara plus speedster Brody Ogle helped the Lions power to consecutive premierships. Lions veteran Ryan Kinnear kicked the first goal of the final term to halt the Magpies charge before two star Magpies linked up, Ryan Gaerth weaved through opponents to set up Jayden Woods for his third major of the game. The Lions, though, had far too many answers on the big stage, as Ford capped a brilliant game with his fourth goal and that was followed by two in a row from Ogle and then last year’s grand final hero Jordan Heil sealed the 13.11 (89) to 7.3 (45) victory. The Lions’ winning side contained 16 premierships players from their breakthrough league flag in 2019 and coach Andrew Ruck has an unblemished record, his two years at the helm both ending in the ultimate success. The result was also the Lions’ 26th consecutive victory, a remarkable winning streak that dates back to May 12 last year. It was a memorable weekend for their club, the Lions also winning the colts and sixteens deciders on Friday night. Ford won the Alan Barnett Medal playing through the midfield and up forward where he kicked four goals and the livewire finished with 22 disposals. McNamara was a real force in the midfield, collecting 27 possessions and a stack of inside 50s while Hamish McMorran helped keep Magpies star Shayne Zanetti to one goal. McMorran and Rhys Jones, playing his 200th league game, stopped everything that came their way in the opening half while Coel Hunter and Stephen Beal (11 disposals and eight marks) kicked multiple goals and were important in the front half. Ruck praised his group for their ultra-consistent season. “This is great reward for every player,” Ruck said. “Coming in today we had to be confident, we have 22 good players but their top seven or eight are so good. “We lost our way a bit in the third, were ill-disciplined and we threw Heil back to stem the flow and that was the turning point. “We set the tone early and to win the flag caps a very good year. “Jonesy played really well in his 200th game which was fantastic as well.” The Magpies were left to rue a goalless first half and despite their fightback they were simply too far behind at the long break to mount a significant challenge. Alec Haskins was outstanding, starting on a wing before he dominated at half-back and finished with 26 touches. Jayden Woods (22 disposals) finished with three goals and was hard to keep out of the game while Ash Smith (26) and David Scriven worked tirelessly in defence. Jaden Guidi was influential around the ball, co-coach Ryan Gaerth finished with 19 touches while Zanetti was quiet with 15 possessions and only three marks. “We had a little bit of a sniff in the last quarter but we used up plenty to get there,” Gaerth said. “Our first half really hurt, we were a bit reactive and fumbling a lot and probably didn’t handle the big stage well at the start. “It was really pleasing the way the boys responded in the third but we had a few guys down on output today. It was a good effort to be here really, considering last year we had a couple of 100-point losses, no home ground and then COVID came.” QUARTER BY QUARTER BEFORE THE BOUNCE Both teams went into the grand final with an unchanged line-up from their preliminary final victories. Hamish McMorran went to Magpies star Shayne Zanetti, who started forward while dangerous Lions tall Stephen Beal had David Scriven for company. Lions captain Rhys Jones ran out in his 200th league game. The Magpies won the toss and kicked to the end favoured by a swirling breeze. FIRST QUARTER A 50m penalty to Lions milestone man Rhys Jones helped create the first goal of the game, as he passed to Stephen Beal, who made no mistake. Beal was on the end of a free kick at the top of the goal square to kick his second to help give the home side a perfect start into the wind. Brody Ogle almost pulled off a brilliant goal, running nearly 100m with multiple bounces into an open forward 50 before he was run down as he kicked by Jarrod Brack. SECOND QUARTER The Lions stamped their mark on the game with four unanswered goals to set up a 41-point half-time lead. Coel Hunter kicked the first of the term and then he pumped his fists at the crowd on the hill after jailing his second from a set shot. A terrific snap from Tom Maslen pushed the margin beyond 30 points and then Jayson Ford got involved, kicking his first. David Scriven came off the ground nearing half-time after a heavy hit. THIRD QUARTER This term belonged to the Magpies as they came out breathing fire after half-time to kick six goals. Going without a goal in the first half, the Magpies had three quick ones on the board through Jaden Guidi, Matt Dykes and then Shayne Zanetti. However, eventual Alan Barnett medallist Jayson Ford bobbed up to keep his Lions in control, kicking his second before a miraculous soccer goal from Dionne Woods. Ford responded with another major to make it a 29-point deficit before Jayden Woods at the other end kicked back-to-back goals. The second of which was a freakish snap from 25m out on the boundary to give the Magpies some life and pull the buffer back to 17 points. FOURTH QUARTER Wingman Ryan Kinnear’s smarts led to a successful set shot early on and then Ryan Gaerth weaved his way through traffic to gift Jayden Woods a third major. The final four goals, however, went the way of the Lions to delivery premiership glory, firstly Jayson Ford booted his fourth and then Brody Ogle got on the board. Ogle made it two in a row, pouncing on a Magpie kick-in to all but end their slim hopes before Jordan Heil capped an impressive second half with a major. DEFINING MOMENT The Magpies had plenty of momentum at the final change and the first goal of the fourth was going to be huge. Lions midfielder Declan McNamara won the ball and drove it deep into attack to the advantage of Ryan Kinnear, the ball falling into his lap at the top of the goal square. He calmly converted and the Lions were on their way to another premiership.