Mundulla won the 2024 Kowree Naracoorte-Tatiara premiership on Saturday when they overcame a tough Kybybolite team at Bordertown by 12 points.
Mundulla did it the hard way after losing the qualifying final but bounced back in the following three games to record a famous premiership victory.
Coming into the game both teams were at near full strength. Mundulla’s Captain Nick Mosey made his return from injury to lead the Moots into battle.
The two clubs had met twice during the season already and both games were close hard fought clashes. This contest was no different.
Mundulla had the aid of a strong breeze in the first quarter. Both teams went in hard right from the start and the first 10 minutes of the game was full of tackles and tight defence from both teams. It was hard for either team to set up any decent scoring chances. It took until 16 minutes of the quarter before the first goal of the game was kicked through Mundulla’s Nathan Studham. Mundulla’s Tom Gaden won the ball off half back and drove the ball long down the field where Studham roved the ball out the back of a pack of players and snapped a bouncing goal through from 40 metres out. Mundulla had a lead of ten points. Kybybolite were struggling to respond and get the ball past the half back line of Mundulla. Reagan Tink and Tom Gaden were standing up strong defensively for Mundulla. Mundulla scored again after Jacob Grosser hit a great tap off a boundary throw in straight to Nathan Studham who burst away and sent the ball forward where James Hinge took a one-handed mark on the lead. James went back and kicked the goal to push Mundulla’s leading margin out to 16 points. Nathan Studham was having a big influence on the game in the first quarter for Mundulla. Kybybolite worked hard into the breeze and finally got a score through Brad Castine but he could only manage to kick a behind. Andrew Bradley was lifting for Kybybolite in general play. Mundulla had another chance to kick a goal late in the quarter but Darcy King missed a running snap shot after Kybybolite’s Tom Curnow was able to put enough pressure on him to force a miss. Mundulla went into quarter time 16 points ahead. Kybybolite did a good job defensively to hold Mundulla to just two goals with the breeze. Mundulla better players during the first quarter were Nathan Studham, Tom Gaden, Reagan Tink, Daniel Noll and Jacob Grosser. Kybybolite’s backline held up as Tom Woodard, Tom Curnow and Dylan Brodie did some good defensive things during the first quarter.
Kybybolite had the wind in the second quarter and they had most of the play in their half of the ground. Mundulla’s defence held up strong as they laid a lot of tackles and tried to waste the time Kybybolite had with the breeze. Kybybolite found it hard to set up a good look at goal. A miss guided kick out of defence gave Kybybolite’s Bill Munn a chance to score their first goal but he missed the shot. The game was a tackle fest at this point as neither team could get any clear play going. Kybybolite finally broke through for their first goal after Oscar Clark won the ball from a contest outside the forward 50 and kicked it long where Charlie Hiller took a great contested mark and went back and scored the goal from a straight in front. Mundulla hit back straight away after Devon Ridgway won a free kick in front of the goal and kicked straight. Mundulla pushed out to a 14-point lead. Kybybolite kept on fighting and won a free kick on the wing where Andrew Bradley handpassed to Jared Deep who sent the ball forward to the forward fifty line where Brad Castine roved the ball and bounced through a much-needed goal. Kybybolite were working hard and had the margin back to eight points. Kybybolite’s Andrew Bradley was starting to get some important touches. Oscar Clark and William Russell were also lifting for Kybybolite. Kybybolite struck again when Jared Deep laid a tackle inside the forward fifty and was awarded a free kick. Jared kicked the goal to cut the Mundulla back to two points. Kybybolite continued to press and try to score late in the quarter but Mundulla’s defence stood firm until the half time siren sounded. Mundulla were very good defensively during the second quarter to hold Kybybolite from scoring for most of the quarter. Reagan Tink had a great quarter for Mundulla. Tim Ballinger also was good defensively and James Hinge worked his way up the ground to take a couple of strong marks. Kybybolite’s William Shepherd, Jared Deep and Brad Castine helped in getting Kybybolite back into the game.
After a quiet first half by his standards, Jake McGrice started to lift his output early in the third quarter. Mundulla had the aid of the breeze and Jake took advantage of it as he kicked a 52-metre goal from right half forward. Jake struck again when he roved the ball off a ruck contest and while running towards the boundary he was able to swing the ball back and through the goal. Mundulla opened up a gap of 16 points. Mundulla were pushing hard at every chance they got.Mundulla ruckman Jacob Grosser’s influence was starting to show in the ruck contest. Kybybolite needed to stand up defensively to not let the game slip away. Remi Brown was one player that was lifting for Kybybolite as he went in hard around the contest. Kybybolite were looking for more defensive help as they sent Billy Laurie to defence to help out. Mundulla broke through to score another goal after Jacob Grosser won a tap to Jake McGrice who kicked the ball forward where James Hinge marked the ball and kicked the goal. Mundulla had the momentum back and now were 22 points clear. Kybybolite lifted defensively in the latter stages of the quarter to hold Mundulla’s scoring down. Mundulla had a 23-point lead heading in to the fourth quarter. Jake McGrice played one of the great grand final third quarters for Mundulla. Jake kicked two great goals and had a hand in setting up the other goal. Jacob Grosser was also influential for Mundulla during the third quarter as well. Kybybolite got some great work out of Remi Brown, Oscar Clark and William Russell as well. Kybybolite’s Tom Woodard was also having a great battle with Mundulla’s James Hinge.
Kybybolite needed a strong start in the fourth quarter if they were to have any chance of victory. Kybybolite worked the ball forward a couple of minutes into the fourth quarter and Billy Laurie was awarded a free kick. Billy scored the goal and cut the Mundulla lead back to 15 points. Mundulla kept working the ball forward but Kybybolite’s defence led by Dylan Brodie was strong in rebounding the ball. Both teams worked hard at defending the ground as neither could get the ball free often and the tackle numbers were going up. The ball got stuck on the wing as their repeat ball ups for five minutes. Mundulla was determined to not let Kybybolite get out and use the wind to their advantage. Mundulla’s defence was standing firm. Jake McGrice worked back hard to help out the likes of Tom Gaden and Reagan Tink in the defensive fifty. Mundulla’s defensive work was eating the time away as Kybybolite tried to open the game up. Kybybolite eventually were able to get a mark inside the forward fifty at the 25 minute mark after Jack Trengove took a free kick and sent the ball forward where William Shepherd took a strong pack mark. William kicked the goal to bring the margin back to 12 points. Any chance Kybybolite had of a late rush was dashed at the centre bounce reset as Mundulla ruckman Jacob Grosser took the ball out of the ruck and belted it forward. Mundulla had done enough to win the Kowree Naracoorte-Tatiara premiership for 2024. Mundulla ruckman Jacob Grosser won the best on ground award in a dominant performance.
Photos provided by https://www.acecootephotography.com/