WILLETTON Junior Football Club’s Year 11 side has celebrated a rare feat by winning its fourth title in as many years.
The side prevailed over minor premiers Booragoon 6.13 (49) to 7.5 (47) in a nail-biting encounter where Willetton kicked two goals inside the final five minutes to secure a stunning come-from-behind victory.
Coach Josh Cusworth said the victory was made sweeter by the fact the team had struggled for numbers throughout the season.
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READ NOW“There were times when we had 16 players on the field, so we didn’t even have enough to field the minimum because of injuries and players playing school footy,” he said.
“It was a difficult year, but we got there in the end.”
In what was his first year of coaching the team, Cusworth said the players had less pressure on grand final day because of the obstacles they had overcome during the year.
“Going into the finals, we’d finished 3rd, so there was more pressure on Booragoon who’d only lost one game all year,” he said.
“I think the boys knew they had what it took to win it, but they weren’t expected to win as much.”
The victory capped a great year for the club, who had three teams in grand finals, including its Year 8 side, which featured four players with brothers in the triumphant Year 11 side.
Sadly, the Year 8 outfit was unable to replicate the Year 11’s efforts in what was its second consecutive grand final, going down to the Canning Vale Cougars.
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