WYNDHAMVALE CAPTURE DIVISION TWO PREMIERSHIP
Wyndhamvale has collected the 2025 Division 2 Senior Men’s premiership in convincing fashion, defeating North Footscray by 35 points at Yarraville Oval.
The Falcons produced a clinical performance in the biggest match of the year, rebounding from back-to-back losses against the Devils to triumph 13.2 (80) to 6.9 (45) in Saturday’s Grand Final.
Dynamic midfielder Jack Tessari and century goal kicker Lewis Stanton starred for Wyndhamvale who finished as minor premiers before capturing their second Western Football Netball League senior premiership.
With the match getting underway 30 minutes after its scheduled start time due to an injury delay in the Under 18s decider, it was North Footscray who eventually settled first.
The Devils opened the scoring with two early behinds from Archie Thomson and Barny Sianos, the latter eventually converting the game’s first major to give North Footscray a brief eight-point lead.
However, that would be their only goal for the term, as Wyndhamvale responded with ruthless efficiency.
Stanton recorded the opening major for his side 12 minutes in and booted a second goal not long after Noah Conney kicked truly, while Brayden Young converted late to complete a four-goal burst.
After trailing by 15 points at quarter time, the Devils managed to wrestle back some control in the second, but they were unable to fully capitalise on forward entries,
They eventually broke through when Sebastian Turnbull converted at the 22-minute however, despite Wyndhamvale going scoreless in the term North Footscray still trailed by seven points at the main break.
It took just 90 seconds for the opening goal of the second half to be scored with Thomson’s first for the Devils reducing the margin to a point, before Wyndhamvale exploded back into the contest.
Tessari (the recipient of the best on ground medal) was the man to ignite the charge for the Falcons, who in the space of 13 minutes piled on five of the next six goals to establish a 24-point buffer.
North Footscray managed to steady through Sianos before Luke Di Mauro restored Wyndhamvale’s four-goal advantage with just a few minutes remaining in the third.
Needing a fast start in the last Jarrod Johns delivered an early goal for the Devils to cut the deficit to 19 points and offer David Battistella’s side a glimmer of hope.
Despite coming under heavy pressure in the first 10 minutes of the quarter Wyndhamvale was able to minimise the damage and eventually respond on the scoreboard.
Nathan Griffiths stepped up with his second goal of the afternoon before Stanton delivered the knockout blow five minutes later with his fifth major shutting the door on North Footscray.
A controlled and composed final five minutes sealed the win for the Falcons, as they added this year’s silverware to their 2015 Grand Final victory, while completing a dream first year in charge for coach Daniel Smith.
Grand Final – Wyndhamvale def North Footscray
Final Score
Wyndhamvale: 4.0 4.0 10.2 13.2 (80)
North Footscray: 1.3 2.5 5.6 6.9 (45)
Goal Kickers
Wyndhamvale: Lewis Stanton 6, Nathan Griffiths 2, Oliver Brett, Noah Cooney, Luke Di Mauro, Jack Tessari, Brayden Young.
North Footscray: Barnaby Sianos 2, Jarrod Johns, Mathew Serafin, Archie Thomson, Sebastian Turnbull.
Best Players
Wyndhamvale: Jack Tessari, Lewis Stanton, Liam Scarborough, Oliver Brett, Noah Cooney, Damon Stephens.
North Footscray: Jackson Ryan, Barnaby Sianos, Brody Vorano, Mitchell Donovan, Adam Petridis, Lachlan Peterson.
