Roos Bounce Back from Wooden Spoon - 2005 Premiership
Langwarrin bounces back after two seasons in the wilderness, and claimed the 2005 Nepean Football League Premiership.
The MPNFL at the end of 2004 decided to make all the leagues a geographical competition, which saw Langwarrin moved to Nepean Division. The majority of football writers on the Peninsula tipped that Rye and Rosebud were going to be so strong that it was going to be a two horse race for the 2005 flag, how wrong they were, when Langwarrin and Frankston battled out one of the most exciting Grand Finals in recent history.
Langwarrin started with the appointment of former Frankston YCW player Gavin Artico as coach, and recruiting Frankston YCW half forward flanker Brad Wakeling.
And as they say the rest is history!
The Frankston/Hastings Standard 12th Sept. 2005
Langy Shocks Bombers
By Simon McEvoy
After looking beaten, Langwarrin conjured some final quarter magic to swamp the Frankston Bombers and claim the 2005 MPNFL Nepean premiership at Rosebud on Saturday.
The Kangaroos came from 23 points behind in the final term to nail a dramatic seven point victory in front of a bumper crowd that braved stormy conditions and was rewarded with a classic spectacle. In probably its most decisive quarter ever, Langwarrin kicked 5.4 while keeping the Bombers goalless. The Bombers won the first three quarters clearly, but couldn't close out the game. Langy won 13.9.87 to 11.14.80.
First season Coach Gavin Artico praised his young teams' inner strength. "I knew what the boys are like," he said. "You put a challenge to them and they are an amazing bunch of blokes, they just respond."
Langwarrin started the match as underdogs after losing to the Bombers by 79 points in the second semi two weeks ago. The Bombers had lost only one game all season (to Langwarrin in Round two).
But Artico remained confident and instructed the boys to play their natural attacking game. Frankston led by 12 points at quarter time and 20 points at half time. And when Joel Atkins and Jason Clapp booted late goals in the third term, the Bombers appeared headed for glory.
At the Langy three quarter time huddle, an upbeat Gavin Artico told his players to believe in themselves and a come from behind win was possible. "I said to the boys, Look, I reckon we've got them," he said. The first goal of the final term was going to be crucial.
Langwarrin needed a spark and it came in the form of classy forward Brad Wakeling, who had been quiet but lit up a darkening Olympic Oval Reserve. In slippery conditions he took a sharp mark and kicked the first goal to narrow the margin to 17 points. He unleashed a double fisted "C'mon" in the process.
Sensing an opportunity, Langwarrin lifted their tempo and began moving the ball with purpose. Dashing defender Dain Hayes and hard tackling Mark Baguley led the turnaround as Langy took control. Full forward Ricky Ramsdale, who had provided a reliable target all game, booted his fifth goal to cut the Bomber's lead to 10 points. A hot Wakeling plucked another mark and goaled to reduce the margin to four points and when Ramsdale smartly played on and snapped his sixth goal, Langwarrin was only a point behind.
As police stopped a fight in the crowd, Langwarrin took the lead when Wakeling booted his third goal for the quarter. Frankston tried to fight back but was powerless. The final siren triggered rowdy scenes as Langy fans ran to their heroes.
Devastated Bombers playing Coach Leigh Stewart, who suffered a broken jaw in the opening minutes of the game but played on, couldn't explain his side's fade out. "Maybe a bit of match fitness, maybe we're not match hardened, I don't know," he said. "The boys just stopped. We had a good year but it just wasn't meant to be."
It was Langwarrin's second flag in three years. Interestingly, wedged in between the flags was a wooden spoon last year.
Baguley won the VCFL medal for best on ground after a fearless display in the midfield , while high leaping defender Lee Palmer was also one of the best. Ramsdale was another key with six goals. Wakeling and Hayes were heroic in the last quarter. Best for the Bombers was former Dolphin Ash Charles.
Langwarrin's Premiership Line Up
B: Brad Green, Lee Palmer, Dylan Webb.
HB: Gavin Artico, Brett Harris, Dain Hayes.
C: Steve O'Brien, Sam Watson, Shaun Brown.
HF: Jeremy Weare, Ash Moore, Tim Urbans.
F: Damien Tobin, Ricky Ramsdale, Brad Wakeling.
FOLL: Gerard Brown, Mark Baguley, Ryan Grose.
INT: Brad Moore, Shane Tanirau, Andrew Withers.
Langwarrin bounces back after two seasons in the wilderness, and claimed the 2005 Nepean Football League Premiership.
The MPNFL at the end of 2004 decided to make all the leagues a geographical competition, which saw Langwarrin moved to Nepean Division. The majority of football writers on the Peninsula tipped that Rye and Rosebud were going to be so strong that it was going to be a two horse race for the 2005 flag, how wrong they were, when Langwarrin and Frankston battled out one of the most exciting Grand Finals in recent history.
Langwarrin started with the appointment of former Frankston YCW player Gavin Artico as coach, and recruiting Frankston YCW half forward flanker Brad Wakeling.
And as they say the rest is history!
The Frankston/Hastings Standard 12th Sept. 2005
Langy Shocks Bombers
By Simon McEvoy
After looking beaten, Langwarrin conjured some final quarter magic to swamp the Frankston Bombers and claim the 2005 MPNFL Nepean premiership at Rosebud on Saturday.
The Kangaroos came from 23 points behind in the final term to nail a dramatic seven point victory in front of a bumper crowd that braved stormy conditions and was rewarded with a classic spectacle. In probably its most decisive quarter ever, Langwarrin kicked 5.4 while keeping the Bombers goalless. The Bombers won the first three quarters clearly, but couldn't close out the game. Langy won 13.9.87 to 11.14.80.
First season Coach Gavin Artico praised his young teams' inner strength. "I knew what the boys are like," he said. "You put a challenge to them and they are an amazing bunch of blokes, they just respond."
Langwarrin started the match as underdogs after losing to the Bombers by 79 points in the second semi two weeks ago. The Bombers had lost only one game all season (to Langwarrin in Round two).
But Artico remained confident and instructed the boys to play their natural attacking game. Frankston led by 12 points at quarter time and 20 points at half time. And when Joel Atkins and Jason Clapp booted late goals in the third term, the Bombers appeared headed for glory.
At the Langy three quarter time huddle, an upbeat Gavin Artico told his players to believe in themselves and a come from behind win was possible. "I said to the boys, Look, I reckon we've got them," he said. The first goal of the final term was going to be crucial.
Langwarrin needed a spark and it came in the form of classy forward Brad Wakeling, who had been quiet but lit up a darkening Olympic Oval Reserve. In slippery conditions he took a sharp mark and kicked the first goal to narrow the margin to 17 points. He unleashed a double fisted "C'mon" in the process.
Sensing an opportunity, Langwarrin lifted their tempo and began moving the ball with purpose. Dashing defender Dain Hayes and hard tackling Mark Baguley led the turnaround as Langy took control. Full forward Ricky Ramsdale, who had provided a reliable target all game, booted his fifth goal to cut the Bomber's lead to 10 points. A hot Wakeling plucked another mark and goaled to reduce the margin to four points and when Ramsdale smartly played on and snapped his sixth goal, Langwarrin was only a point behind.
As police stopped a fight in the crowd, Langwarrin took the lead when Wakeling booted his third goal for the quarter. Frankston tried to fight back but was powerless. The final siren triggered rowdy scenes as Langy fans ran to their heroes.
Devastated Bombers playing Coach Leigh Stewart, who suffered a broken jaw in the opening minutes of the game but played on, couldn't explain his side's fade out. "Maybe a bit of match fitness, maybe we're not match hardened, I don't know," he said. "The boys just stopped. We had a good year but it just wasn't meant to be."
It was Langwarrin's second flag in three years. Interestingly, wedged in between the flags was a wooden spoon last year.
Baguley won the VCFL medal for best on ground after a fearless display in the midfield , while high leaping defender Lee Palmer was also one of the best. Ramsdale was another key with six goals. Wakeling and Hayes were heroic in the last quarter. Best for the Bombers was former Dolphin Ash Charles.
Langwarrin's Premiership Line Up
B: Brad Green, Lee Palmer, Dylan Webb.
HB: Gavin Artico, Brett Harris, Dain Hayes.
C: Steve O'Brien, Sam Watson, Shaun Brown.
HF: Jeremy Weare, Ash Moore, Tim Urbans.
F: Damien Tobin, Ricky Ramsdale, Brad Wakeling.
FOLL: Gerard Brown, Mark Baguley, Ryan Grose.
INT: Brad Moore, Shane Tanirau, Andrew Withers.