Three-peat! Rosellas dynasty continues

The dynasty has grown.

It was unlikely, but Cheltenham had Dingley’s measure for the first time all season in the Southern league Division 1 grand final to salute a third consecutive premiership in its fifth straight grand final.

The Rosellas prevailed 6.10 (46) to 3.12 (30) after holding minor premiers Dingley goalless in a stunning first half display.

Four of Cheltenham’s six goals came from the boot of Jack Lonie. The former Saint was as smooth as he was damaging and his presence was felt all over RSEA Park in a performance deserving of the Meneilly Medal.

“He kicked four points last year so he got us back,” outgoing Rosellas coach Justin Pickering quipped of Lonie’s performance.

“I thought he was fantastic, we talked before the game and I said ‘mate. I reckon it’s time’, and he said ‘I do too’ so I knew he was in for a good one.”

Tom Davis kicked Cheltenham’s first goal of the day after a strong mark on the goal line and he was a consistent marking threat in the Rosellas forward 50. Davis could have had a pair of first term majors but dished another chance off to Jack Lonie for his first.

“He’s an enigma, he can’t run, he’s pretty slow, but one-on-one he’s pretty hard to beat,” Pickering said of Davis.

“I know Dingley are fearful of him because he’s destroyed Dingley before … he’s a three-time premiership player (now), not a lot of people can say that.”

The Dingoes had been the better starter by some way in all of its three wins over Cheltenham this year, but that counted for little on the grand final stage.

Cheltenham’s pressure was relentless and its defence was near impenetrable – as it had to topple a side that finished 16 points clear atop the ladder.

“We knew what their strengths were and we wanted to make sure we don’t allow them to chip the ball around and the stats say we chip the ball around better than they did,“ Pickering said.

“To be fair, we probably should have been a lot further up at half-time and the game could’ve been nearly over.

“These boys were never gonna lose, they knew what their role was and it was a really well executed and good disciplined effort.

“Some great intellect came into our discussions this week from all sorts of people and it was fantastic.”

The Dingoes weren’t without their chances in the second term.

A potent piece of transition was wasted, and soon after a Tom Morecroft mark near the goalface only delivered a behind.

The contrast between the sides was laid bare minutes later as Jack Lonie slotted his best goal of the day with a brilliant snap over his shoulder on the run to ensure the Rosellas took a 32-point lead into the main break.

Despite more missed chances, it started to click for Dingley in the third quarter as the Dingoes kicked 3.6 to a lone Cheltenham goal to cut the deficit back to 14 points.

Morecroft, who hadn’t gone without a goal all season, toe-poked the footy over the line for Dingley’s first.

The Rosellas hit back quickly courtesy of a spectacular intercept hanger from Daniel Vaughan at the top of Cheltenham’s attacking arc. The grab led to Lonie kicking his fourth.

Skipper Jackson Peet and Mitch Cook also hit the scoreboard for Dingley, with both goals coming from inside the centre square.

Cook’s was a rousing set shot after the three-quarter-time siren. It was followed by a passionate three-quarter-time rev up from coach Zach Horsley and given all the momentum was with Dingley, the fuse was lit for a stunning fourth quarter comeback.

Instead, the match fizzled as Cheltenham tackled and controlled its way to a three-peat.

“Stoppage after stoppage is where we were doing well, let’s make sure that we slow the game right down and play it into our hands,” Pickering said of the final term, in which neither team kicked a goal.

“They were taking chances and running forward of the ball and going through the corridor.

“We said let’s stop that and the boys did really well. The three-quarter-time message was ‘we’re not saving this game, we’ve still got to win it’.”

Ruckman Jacob Edwards was immense and clunked a number of crucial intercept grabs behind the ball throughout the day, while teenager Charlie Brookes played a match to remember.

“I thought Charlie Brookes on the wing, 18-year-old was unbelievable,” Pickering said.

“Jacob Edwards in the ruck played a pivotal role, took some massive marks and took some big hits too.

“Guys probably didn’t get a lot of the ball but they played their role, that’s important and that’s why they’re premiership players now.”

When he was called on stage to receive the premiership cup, Pickering said that Cheltenham weren’t “anywhere near” a premiership push at the midway point of the year.

“Halfway through the year we lost three or four games and we had to reassess where we were at, Dingley was obviously flying” he later said in the changerooms.

“To the credit of the coaches and the senior boys we all came together and said ‘this what we need to do’, and the attitude changed completely.

“We still lost a couple of games in the back end but they weren’t horrific.

“We knew how well we were playing and how well we could play and our momentum built beautifully for the finals.

“We reassessed this week and executed exactly what we talked about and played our game and picked apart their game, it was a great effort by the boys.”

Pickering took over as head coach from Des Ryan, who delivered the first flag of the Rosellas’ premiership streak, and will now bow out a two-time premiership coach after two seasons at the helm.

“I’m not lying it’s been a real challenge this year,” he said.

“Undefeated last year and we knew we lost a lot of quality out of the team.

“(President) Adam King’s been fantastic and steadfast with his support.

“I’ll leave this club really satisfied, I’ll be there in round one having a few beers, and I think the club’s in really good hands behind the scenes.

“I think it’s time for a change.”

SCOREBOARD

Cheltenham 3.2, 5.6, 6.6, 6.10 (46) def Dingley 0.3, 0.4, 3.10, 3.12 (30)

Cheltenham goals: Jack Lonie 4, Sam Lonie, Tom Davis. Best: Jack Lonie, Jacob Edwards, Charlie Brookes, Daniel Vaughan, Sam Hayes, Dylan Weickhardt.

Dingley goals: Jackson Peet, Tom Morecroft, Cameron Dickie, Mitchell Cook. Best: Jack Lalor, Lachlan Benton, Michael Barnes, Luke Simmonds, Mitchell Cook, Lucas Walmsley.