Gallery ǀ Benalla All Blacks break 41-year premiership drought with win over Bonnie Doon

By James Kleeman

Sep 20, 2022

Let’s go: All Blacks’ Trent Chapman cheers after his side’s Ovens and King grand final win on Saturday. Photos: Brenden Paddock Photo by Brenden Paddock

The wait is over.

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Benalla All Blacks cruised past Bonnie Doon on Saturday to clinch the club’s first Ovens and King Football League premiership in 41 years.

It was a joyous day for the All Blacks all around, with the Panthers’ reserves side sealing a 12.6 (78) to 5.10 (40) win over Bright for its first flag since 1995.

The heavens opened up at Wangaratta’s WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday, with a torrential downpour setting the scene for two grand final slogs in the wet.

The less-than-ideal conditions and the fact the Panthers had not played a game of football in three weeks looked to be having an effect early with Bonnie Doon gaining ascendancy with two goals to the All Blacks’ one.

But the Panthers found their feet in the second term and kicked two majors to the Bombers’ one.

The Panthers grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck after the main break, and kicked three while the Bombers managed just one goal.

With one hand on the flag, Nich Spencer’s men did not take their foot off the gas in the final stanza, booting another two and limiting Boonie Doon to another single-goal quarter.

On-ball gun Jackson Hourigan capped off a monumental year with a grand final best-on-ground medal, while Justin Gervasoni, Alistair Jacka, Brady Hayes, Regan Sheehan and Cody Crawford were the top contributors for the Panthers.

Panthers reserves ruck Corry Westbury walked away with a best-on-ground medal in the reserves decider.

Tom Levy, Joshua Hyland, Ayden Amos, James Webster and David Button all featured prominently in the All Blacks’ reserves win.

Both sides ended premiership droughts on Saturday, with Panthers president Doug Aiton thrilled his two teams had helped the club take another massive step in the right direction.

“We’re absolutely rapt, it’s the first since seniors flag since ‘81 and that was also the first time the firsts and seconds won it in the same year,” he said.

“Everybody around the club is so happy.”