Yoogali SC has learnt from the harsh lessons from the last meeting with Hanwood FC to claim the GDFA first grade title.
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Yoogali coach Luke Santolin said his team was dejected after the last defeat.
“When we lost 6-0, our boys were beside themselves,” he said.
“We have never been so disappointed and for them to turn that on today is more than skill that was all from the heart.
“I can not tell you how proud I am of them.”
I can not tell you how proud I am of them.
- Yoogali SC coach Luke Santolin on his side's performance
From the start, the feeling out process was evident.
Early tackles set the tone for a physical first half.
It looked like it would be Hanwood FC that would open the scoring after some decent chances were created in the first half.
If not for some great saves from Yoogali SC captain Micheal Depaoli, it would have been a different story at half-time.
It did not take long for the game to find life in the second half.
Just five minutes into the second half, Yoogali SC’s Darren Bailey struck.
Bailey made a strong run down the wing and was able to just lift the ball over the top of Hanwood FC goalkeeper Marcus Stiller into an open net.
That lead only lasted a couple of minutes and it took something special from long range.
Hanwood’s Brad Clark fired from just outside the box and gave Depaoli no chance at stopping the cannon.
Hanwood’s Cameron McWhirter gave away a free kick for a handball just outside the box and Bailey required no further invitation.
He got the ball up and over the wall and into the net to score his second and the match-winner.
For his efforts in the game Bailey was named as best on ground.
It was an award Santolin felt was well deserved for a man who “loves to play the villain and lives for the big occasions”.
