There are grand finals and there are Grand Finals.
In recent years the A Grade FIDA grand finals have been decided pretty quickly, with some even invoking the 40 point mercy rule. (And a one-sided grand final in 2024 finished early because of lightning.)
Under sunny skies at Coburg City Oval on Sunday 30 August, Ringwood and Williamstown played a Grand Final for the ages. Tight all day, it came down to a player soccering a behind with just seconds left.
Pre-match
It is unwise to rely on omens but there were two that favoured Williamstown. Firstly, the inside cover of the FIDA footy record included a photo of several victorious, arm-in-arm Seagulls from last year’s grannie. Secondly, the B grade grand final played just before the A Grade game was won by another blue and gold team, the Cranbourne Eagles.
Williamstown coach Rob Klemm had to pause his pre-match address in the changerooms due to the Eagles next door boisterously singing their club song – the same tune and words as Williamstown’s.
So, the omens were looking good. But omens don’t take marks or kick goals. Omens don’t tackle or smother.
The Ringwood Spiders, coming up from B Grade this season, had reason to be quietly confident. In a home game they had thumped Williamstown not too many weeks ago, and their run into the finals had them in good form. The Seagulls had had a bumpy season, starting very poorly, but never gave up on the chance of making the last dance of the year.
First quarter
Kicking to the grandstand end, the Spiders were first to goal, a snap from the pocket. With a 13-point lead 10 minutes in, it looked like the A Grade tyros might give the perennial grand finalists and regular premiers a lesson in how to win a flag. Williamstown steadied, though, and the margin was no margin at all at after the first 20 minutes.
Williamstown 3.1 (19)
Ringwood 3.1 (19)
Second quarter
The Seagulls had much of the play but did not make the most of their many opportunities. Marks were dropped, goals were missed, free kicks. Call it nerves, call it pressure. A goal from a ball up, followed by several points, broke the shackles a little. Better to be a fraction ahead at half-time than a fraction behind.
Williamstown 4.6 (30)
Ringwood 3.4 (22)
Third quarter
This was Ringwood’s turn to squander hard-fought chances. The Spiders kicked the first goal and took the lead after a series of behinds. The large ground seemed to suit the fast-running Spiders, with long kicks out of defence setting up possibilities. But the Seagulls were persistent with their tackling, smothering, lunging, and chasing, and were rewarded with a goal at the 18-minute mark giving them a slender lead.
Williamstown 5.7 (37)
Ringwood 4.9 (33)
Fourth quarter
An extended three-quarter time break, due to a player needing first-aid attention from St John’s Ambulance, gave both teams a longer breather than anticipated. Which team would take advantage of the delay? Would one team storm home, quickly put the result beyond doubt? Would one team wilt? Who was the fittest?
A goal to Ringwood with seven minutes left put the Spiders up by two points. Could they hold on for a famous victory? Williamstown kicked behind after behind until scores were level with one minute to go.
The Seagulls kept the ball in their forward line from the full-back kick-ins. (“Lock it in! Lock it in! Lock it in!” was the repeated call from the Seagulls’ coaches.) A drawn grand final and then extra time looked quite likely. The crowd at the grandstand end were witnessing a grandstand finish.
Then with 10 seconds to go, a Seagull amidst a flock of team-mates and a desperate web of Spiders, got his boot to the ball. It went between the goal post and the behind post. Over the line. A point. (It was enough for St Kilda in 1966 and enough for Williamstown in 2026.) There was no time for Ringwood to get the ball to the other end of the ground. Their goalposts must have seemed miles and miles away.
There are grand finals and there are Grand Finals. And there are Great Grand Finals.
Williamstown 5.12 (42)
Ringwood 5. 11 (41)
Post-match
Both coaches praised both teams for a game of quality football played in true FIDA spirit. Best player on the ground went to Kaleb Watson of Ringwood. The runners-up have announced themselves as a genuine A Grade team. Next year’s games between these clubs will be much anticipated.
FIDA is a league for players with intellectual disabilities. https://fida.org.au/
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