In their debut season in the North Gippsland Football Netball League, Yallourn Yallourn North has taken the 2022 NGFNL premiership with their 16.10 (106) to 9.6 (62) Grand Final win over Traralgon Tyers United.

YYN Army: YYN FNC supporters were everywhere you looked at Heyfield FNC at the NGFNL 2022 Grand Final.

Thousands of spectators congregated around Heyfield Football-Netball Club’s football field’s edge, some with banners, some with balloons, some dressed in football team costumes, to watch the North Gippsland Football Grand Final on Saturday afternoon.

YNN FNC supporters
Go Jets: Remy and Beau Stevens and River and Benji Anderson were some of the smallest supporters cheering on YYN in the Grand Final. Photos Zoe Askew

The siren’s sound signified the games beginning; the Jets’ engine stalled, the Bombers came out swinging, and by the end of the first quarter, TTU was in the lead 4.4 (28) to 1.0 (6).

Maybe the Bombers were a bit cold, or perhaps a bit sore, or maybe it was a case of going too hard, too soon. But, whatever it was, they dropped the ball, and the Jets flew, in almost evening the score.

TTU FNC player
Desperation: TTU’s Liam Willaton is tackled by YYN’s Dylan Keyhoe, watched on by James De Virgilio.

Returning after the first-quarter break, YYN dominated the field, kicking four goals and four points, but a goal and two points from TTU saw the Bombers cling to a two-point lead at the end of a rough second quarter.

TTU 5.6 (36), YYN 5.4 (34).

Fast forward to the end of the third, YYN kicked eight goals and two behinds; the Jets had well and truly taken off.

YYN FNC player
Raking: Mitchell Luck sends the ball inside 50.

Despite TTU’s failing efforts to keep them in the game, kicking just two goals in the third, Liam Willaton put forward a valiant performance for the Bombers with an unwavering hunger for the ball.

YYN 13.6 (84), TTU 4.8 (48).

The clouds congregated, hiding the last of the sun, and a bitter wind sent shivers down spines as the Bombers and Jets returned to the field for the final quarter.

This was it, the final hoorah, and all eyes were on Keenan Hughes, having kicked seven of the Jets’ 13 goals.

Exercising his mastery of reading the game and showcasing some fancy footwork, playing coach Barrie Burnett kicked a cracker of a goal, sending the Jets to a soaring lead in the opening minutes of the fourth.

Take a bow Keenan Hughes.

Just two minutes later, Hughes takes a mark inside the 50, kicking another goal for the Jets and his eighth goal of the game.

Dishing it off: Yallourn Yallourn North’s Lachlan Little gets a handpass away during the Grand Final. Photos Zoe Askew

In thirty seconds, Hughes finds the ball again and adds another goal to his NGFNL Grand Final repertoire, taking YYN to a 16.8 (104) to 8.7 (55) lead over TTU.

The Bombers scrounged up a goal in the 19th minute, with TTU’s Trent Hourigan, Rowan Hore and Hayden Willaton the best of the boys in black.

YYN’s Dylan Bently passed the ball down the outside.

TTU captain Jye Neilson found the ball in the 22nd minute, taking a mark just meters from the goal line, but failed to convert another goal for the Bombers as the ball skewed behind the goalpost with a punch from YYN’s defence.

The siren blared, the game was done.

Keenan Hughes
Well deserved: Best on ground Keenan Hughes is awarded for his efforts with a frothy.

Cheers oscillated across the grounds; streams of red and yellows glowed upon the field as spectators raced towards the Jets, celebrating their 16.10 (106) to 9.8 (62) win over the Bombers in a shower of hugs and beer.

After a deafening victory song at the fields centre, the Jets took their position by the NGFNL podium to receive their well-deserved premiership medals, presented by the littlest members of the YYN FNC community.

A touching end to a historic day.

Great job: Bobbi Shellcot presents Josh Keyhoe with his premiership medal. Photos Zoe Askew

It was no surprise that Keenan Hughes was voted best on ground, having kicked an impressive nine goals in the NGFNL Grand Final. Darcy Shellcot, Callum Robertson, playing-coach Barrie Burnett, Campbell MacInnes and Dylan Bath were also fundamental players for the Jets.

The smile on Burnett’s face said it all, pure elation.

“I’m absolutely ecstatic,” Burnett said. “After the first quarter, yeah, we didn’t come out to play properly, and then we just, we got the game on our terms.

I am just so happy for everyone around, all the supporters and everyone.”

Heartwarming: Tex Burnett receives a big hug from dad, YYN playing-coach Barrie Burnett after the Grand Final win.

Despite the Jets’ delayed take-off, Burnett couldn’t be happier with his team’s performance, saying the boys played “absolutely fantastic”.

“When you got a bloke like Keenan Hughes, who goes in and kicks nine goals, just a standout, like everyone played their role, but then you get a superstar like him, it’s just yeah, good,” Burnett said

“Everyone doubted us; everyone said we would be fourth, fifth on the ladder, but we come in our first year, and we took the f*****g flag.”