Under-17A winners: East Ringwood celebrates its under-17A premiership. Picture: Cyan Press
Under-13A: Croydon Blue celebrates its Under-13A premiership. Picture: Cyan Press
EAST Ringwood capped off a long season with the best of rewards in the Eastern Football League under-17A grand final on Sunday.
The Roos travelled to Vermont Reserve to face Vermont yet still found a way to come out on top, winning by 19 points.
Roos coach Greg Chambers said he was proud of his players for fighting through fatigue in the final term to hold onto their lead and win the flag.
The Roos had topped the league during the season.
"It was an awesome end to a long season," Chambers said. "We started training in November, so it has been a long one. We had a lead of about 40 points in the third term but started to run out of puff in the last quarter.
"Vermont got within eight points but then the boys put on two late goals. They had everyone jumping up and down and shaking. It was an emotional ending."
The Roos's best were Daniel Butera, Darcy Hubbard, Sam Lowson, Jarrod Lake, Jordan Williams and Daniel Pica.
Heathmont's under-14B side completed an undefeated season with a 67-point win over Ferntree Gully Eagles.
After a nervy start the Jets took the lead and then held steady, eventually scoring a flurry of goals in the final 20 minutes to win the match.
Jets coach Chris Walters, who had coached some members of the team for five years, said the win was a fantastic effort by his players and their parents.
"The game is a bit of a blur. I'm looking forward to seeing it on video," he said. "The score didn't reflect how close the game was. Credit to Ferntree Gully - they scrapped hard all day and we got on top only through persistence.
"Once we got going, the game opened up and we showed why we had gone undefeated this season."
Walters said he had continued to coach the Jets because of his connection to the club and the dedication of the players and parents.
"You wouldn't do it unless you had a good bunch of kids. I don't have a child in the team, I have a newborn child but one of the reasons I coach is to work with these kids."
The Jets's best were Daniel George, Jack McDonald, Josh Kral, James Chaston, Glen Vernal and Jasmine Grierson.
Jets president Frank Kielblock applauded the team and Walters, although the Jets also experienced the sadder side of grand final day with two other sides losing their grand finals.
"They played super footy all year," he said. "It was a little sad that we had three sides in grand finals and two went down but sometimes the kids also need to learn how to lose and do so gracefully, which they did."
Croydon Blue also won the under-13A grand final.
Maroondahweekly.com.au will feature a gallery of EFL junior premiers pictures this week thanks to Cyan Press.