Central Midlands Coastal Football League is celebrating a historic division two title after capping a superb country football championships with grand final glory on Sunday.
In an absorbing Nutrien Ag Solutions Men’s Country Football Championships division decider at Fremantle Community Bank Oval, Central Midlands Coastal overpowered Eastern Districts to earn promotion to division one next year.
Their 16-point triumph was set up by electric forward Robert Warrell and midfield gun Josh Harris, as they kicked the first three goals of the contest and never looked back.
Eastern Districts fought back in the second term and trailed by 10 points as key forward Eli Alexander kicked all three of his side’s majors.
Goals from Warrell and Jesse Reinke then gave Central Midlands Coastal a 16-point buffer at the last change.
Eastern Districts’ Seth Connor got the vital early goal his side needed in the fourth and when star playmaker Tom Baldwin kicked truly, the deficit was back to four goals.
A classy finish on the run from Jaygar Martin gave Central Midlands Coastal a 10-point lead and then Warrell bobbed up to boot his fourth and seal the 10.4 (64) to 7.6 (48) victory.
Harris was prolific in the middle, racking up possessions, winning clearances and adding a goal, and won the Nutrien Ag Solutions Medal as the player judged best on ground in the grand final.
Jason Gillbee and Robert Warrell were also named alongside Harris in the all-star squad for the senior men’s competition.
Warrell’s four goals were class while Mitchell Fitzgerald and Jamie Paul also had strong influence for the winners.
Alexander was enormous in defeat, kicking five majors to showcase his talent, while Samuel Collins, Benson Alvaro and Chazzon Foss all worked hard for Eastern Districts.
The grand final win capped a perfect campaign for Central Midlands Coastal, having prevailed in all four of their qualifying games.
On Friday, they held on for a four-point win to hold off a fast-finishing Upper Great Southern side to nab the 4.8 (32) to 4.4 (28) victory.
Angus Laurisson was excellent, while co-captain Todd Kenny, Jason Gillbee and Lachlan Norris imposed themselves on the contest.
Central Midlands Coastal backed this up later in the day with a 17-point triumph over Lower South West who they kept scoreless in the first half in the the 5.6 (36) to 3.1 (19) win.
Blake Garraway was busy on the wing and got himself a snag, as did Warrell, Gilbee and Jack Rava who also earned best player nods.
On Saturday, Central Midlands Coastal continued on their merry way with another strong 7.7 (49) to 3.5 (23) victory over Ongerup to all but secure their place in the decider.
Gillbee, Warrell and Jack McQuie all had two snags each, while James WiIlliams and Mitchell Fitzgerald were influential in the contest.
Onlookers were the treated to an eventual grand final preview as Central Midlands Coastal came out on the right side of a thrilling 5.3 (33) to 4.2 (26) contest.
With one point in it at half-time, Central Midlands Coastal charged ahead with three second half goals which proved enough.
Angus Laurisson delivered another best on ground performance as did Williams. Kenny led from the front, while James Harrold earned recognition for his stellar showing.
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