In the latest edition of our SFNL grand final series, this time we return to 2016 when Ouyen United completed the fairy tale of winning the premiership in their first season in the competition. MITCH RODD takes a look back at how the Kangas came to be and their ascendancy through adversity to the top.
IT seemingly comes directly from the scrap book of a Hollywood script writer – two fierce rivals forced to work together through adversity and celebrate their triumphant victory.
If it was from a movie set, Ouyen United nailed the scenes in a single take.
All the doubts about becoming an amalgamated club were washed away in a combination of euphoria and liquid courage as Blackburn Park became the hottest party place on earth in September of 2016, after conquering the Sunraysia Football and Netball League (SFNL) in their first season.
Former Mallee Football League (MFL) heavyweights Ouyen United and Walpeup-Underbool had done it, as a unified club.
As captain and John Groves Medal winner Brad Vallance put it: “The win was so special for the community and proving the doubters wrong and bringing the two clubs together, after that there was no doubt it was the right move to amalgamate.”
The grand final victory, however, was about more than just the day in question.
THE rivalry between Ouyen United and Walpeup-Underbool was “massive”, according to Vallance.
No matter the circumstances, it was always going to be a bruising MFL encounter between the Demons and Kangaroos, which is saying something considering the contested nature of footy in the Mallee.
“I’ve played there my whole life and it was probably one of the fiercest rivalries I’d been part of,” Vallance said.
“We always knew when we played Walpeup Underbool it was going to be a dog fight, it didn’t matter where the teams were on the ladder, it was always a close game. You’d have a beer after the game with each other but on the field you hated each other and that’s how it had always been.”
By the end of 2015, the MFL ceased to exist, with a struggle for numbers too much for the remaining five clubs.
Ouyen was already used to mergers, with the former Ouyen Rovers having gone through this at the end of 1996, amalgamating with Tempy-Gorya-Patchewollock to become Ouyen United.
With six of the 19 MFL premierships between them, old rivals Ouyen United and Walpeup-Underbool came together to take on Sunraysia.
“I remember even in pre-season during training sessions it was pretty quiet at the start because of new faces, as well as blokes you’d been playing against for a number of years and all of a sudden you’re training together,” Vallance said.
“We had joint coaches in Andy Jardine and Kane Munro, I think it was good to have a coach from each club because that helped bring the team together.”
Despite a slow start to the season, the Kangas momentum built as the year went on, finishing third on equal points alongside Merbein.
It was their victory over the Magpies in the first elimination final, however, that led to their first real thoughts of being able to win the 2016 flag.
“We knew we had a quality team but joining players from two different clubs was always going to take a while to gel,” Vallance said.
“When we got over the line (against Merbein), I reckon that’s when we had the belief we could do a bit of damage. Just the feeling around the club, the atmosphere and just the vibe of the whole community, everyone was coming in numbers to training and the games and there was a sea of blue and white at the games and our confidence was growing.
“From the start of the finals series to the grand final, we’d just taken it up another level. Come grand final day I don’t think anyone would have beaten us.”
After taking down Irymple in the preliminary final, a date with Mildura awaited.
THE Demons were the red-hot favourites. After sending Irymple packing in the qualifying final, everything was lined up for them to win their first flag since 2007.
A confidence, however, was brewing among the faithful at Blackburn Park. Stars like Vallance, Jardine, Munro, Kale Barker, Marcus Healy, Marc Hahnel and Northern Territory recruits like Dean Staunton and Will and Josiah Farrer had the firepower to put the Demons away.
“We were very confident going into the grand final because Mildura had the week off and deeper into the finals the weather is going to be warmer so you want to have that consistency and match fitness,” Vallance said.
“We built our style on contested footy and putting the opposition under pressure because we knew that our ‘Mallee style’ of football was our biggest strength. When we play that footy and the crowd gets behind us, we go to another level, and the whole community just got behind us.
“I remember it was in the news and the papers how we were going to go, and the whole town was decorated in blue and white, the school kids were making posters and I think along the highway up to Mildura there were streamers and balloons and we just really fed off that excitement.”
The skipper was also able to get an early win under his belt on the day as well.
“I don’t think I’d won a toss for a while,” Vallance chuckled. “I won the toss and I could finally go back to group and say we’re kicking with the breeze boys.
“Obviously we still had to take advantage of it, but I think that little edge and confidence booster of kicking with the breeze because if can get off to good starts in grand finals you can put the ‘oppo’ under pressure and we did exactly what we planned to do, get the fast start and put the doubt in their minds.”
Normally the label ‘premiership quarter’ is reserved for the third term of a game. On this day, it was the opening stanza that decided the contest.
Led by Vallance, who had 11 disposals, six marks and two goals inside the opening 25 minutes and was described by Sunraysia Daily scribe Bill Sauer as “a Colossus”, the Kangas got the jump with a 37-point lead at the first break.
The final margin would be reduced to 31, but the damage had been done early. Made by ‘Mallee footy’.
“Our biggest strength was we didn’t rely on one or two players, we had 21 contributors all worthy of a grand final spot,” Vallance said.
“We were very fortunate to have a strong squad and we probably had six or seven players in the reserves that could have easily stepped up and played seniors. Our reserves won the premiership that year as well so that’s evidence of the strong squad.
“As captain I wanted to set the standard and I feel like as a leader you have to be leading by example by putting those tackles and hard hits in and doing the team things.”
Vallance would win the John Groves Medal for best on ground, Josiah Farrer the VCFL Medal, while Will Farrer and Marcus Healy, against his old side, each kicked four majors.
“We all jumped on the bus to get back, and we would have had probably a thousand people come up to Mildura, and then we all met back at the footy club later that night and the celebrations continued on for a couple of weeks,” Vallance said.
“I reckon I’d rank 2016 (premiership) above any, just because of the circumstances. Take nothing away from 2018, but we were probably favourites then, where as in 2016 not many people would have given us a chance.
“The feeling and camaraderie was unbelievable and the supporters there … it was unreal.”
