Three-peat confirms Goon greatness

by Nicholas Duck

Nar Nar Goon have etched themselves as West Gippsland immortals after successfully competing their three-peat with a tight 14-point win over Phillip Island in Saturday's grand final.

Goon forward Dermott Yawney was the star of the show, slamming home a game-high six goals on his way to best on ground honours as the Goon kicked away late for a sterling 10.9 (69) to 8.7 (55).

It wasn't an easy win by any stretch, the Bulldogs more than up for the challenge and even managing to even the scores heading into the final term.
But when the moment called for greatness the Goon were there to answer, kicking three goals to one in the final term to earn passage into the annals of the competition's relatively short history.
With their win the Goon have become the first side to win three flags in this iteration of the West Gippsland league, overtaking Phillip Island in the process.
A bumper crowd at Garfield Recreation Reserve were treated to a terrific contest throughout, featuring numerous lead changes, classic goals and plenty of tension to go around.
Nar Nar Goon's lethal kicking game, combined with Yawney's heroics inside 50, proved to be the difference on another great day for the club.
While Yawney was front and centre in the victory, Goon big man Nate Pipicelli's work in the ruck and around the ground proved to be a major factor in their team getting on top. Matched against one of the league's best in Cam Pedersen, Pipicelli was more than up to the task.
Ryan Bromley's run and carry through the middle held him in good stead as well, particularly late when he bombed a dagger of a goal from 50 to ice the game. Flynn Parker and the Smiths – both Jake and Jed – also were effective.
Despite the defeat Pedersen was again best on for the Bulldogs, laying it all on the line in his final game as coach.
Billy Taylor (three goals) did excellent work around the ground as well as up forward, as young forward Finn O'Brien (two goals), Daniel Pearce, Jack Taylor and Jay Ladson did what they could.
The early stages of the game saw goals coming at a premium as each team booted two for the term.
Yawney was on the board and showing his stuff, flying over a pack for a wonderful contested mark before converting, while Billy Taylor kicked both of the Bulldogs' majors.
Clearly up on confidence, Yawney really made his presence known at the beginning of the second, where he kicked three unanswered goals to give the Goon a good lead.
The second of his goals should be credited to Matt Gentile, however, after he smothered a Bulldog kick out of defence, gathered and successfully centred it to the Nar Nar Goon spearhead.
Just as the Goon threatened to rip the game away Phillip Island clicked into gear, first creating a turnover that led to another Billy Taylor goal and then backing it up when Yianni Caffieri handed one off to Pedersen at the top of 50, the coach duly delivering a missile between the sticks.
And by the time O'Brien slotted another via a free kick, the Bulldogs were officially back in action and back in the game.
After a goal each in the third term an even scoreboard set things up for a classic final quarter where there was everything to play for.
Ten minutes went by without a major, until Clancy Pope broke the deadlock, snapping truly to get the Goon fans up and about.
They were even more excited when a free kick to Yawney gave him his sixth, before the game was sealed by Ryan Bromley, who received a handball, crossed the paint of 50, weighed up his options and decided to let rip, pushing the margin out beyond three goals and guaranteeing the cup would stay at Nar Nar Goon.
It's a historic win that will be celebrated by the Goon for years to come and with no signs that they're slowing down it raises the question: can anyone stop them from winning a fourth?