Blake Metcalf-Holt
THE Eagles swooped in and took out the C grade premiership last Saturday in the Gippsland League Grand Final against Drouin.
At Morwell Recreation Reserve, Maffra secured the chocolates in a heart-pounding one-goal victory holding off a hunting Hawks outfit with a goal from Staci Scott with seconds remaining.
Finishing third on the ladder by the end of the home-and-away season, Maffra was forced to play four finals on its way to the flag after losing to Drouin by two goals in the qualifying final.
After beating Wonthaggi to stave off elimination, the Eagles upset minor premier Morwell in the preliminary final to set up a rematch with the Hawks.
Maffra got out to hot start leading 11-8 after the first quarter in the grand final, and through portions of the second term extended the margin to as much as seven goals.
Drouin, however, would go on a late run, scoring six of the final nine goals of the first half, to reduce the deficit with the half-time scoreboard reading 21-17.
The Eagles would have to be prepared for anything entering the second half, and despite an early run for the Hawks, Maffra held strong to keep its lead at five goals upon three-quarter-time.
Drouin was not about to give in though with the Hawks mounting a 5-2 run to open the final quarter of the season and cut the margin to two goals off the back of goal shooter Tess Mapleson.
Eagles goal attack Scott would answer the bell with back-to-back goals after a short dry period following Drouin’s scoring spurt filled with many high-pressure acts from both sides.
The unrelenting nature of the Hawks continued, however, scoring the next four goals to tie the game up 36-36 with over a minute left in the game.
The ball found its way down in Drouin’s scoring end and after Maffra goal keeper Bec Berry was taken out of the play, goal defence and captain Brooke Anderson stood up to shut down the two Hawks scorers, seeing the ball bop out of the rim and secured the rebound.
The Eagles worked it down to their end and got the ball to goal shooter Serrin Stobie who subsequently missed the winning shot.
Scott was there off the miss though and fought through her defender to force the umpire to make a call. The ball was called back into Scott’s hands and she nailed the ultimate decider with the siren going as Drouin raced back to the centre.
As it roared, players ran the length of the court to the two Maffra shooters with family and friends following suit, creating a mass huddle in their attacking third.
Anderson accepted the best on court medal for an outstanding performance for the Eagles.
