Kolora-Noorat fail to defend its premiership in 2018 in a 22-point defeat to Old Collegians

The Power’s bid to defend their 2017 premiership came to a halt against Old Collegians in a 11.11 (77) to 8.7 (55) preliminary final defeat on Saturday.

But the junior development seen in the loss is the lasting legacy of Finn’s time as Kolora-Noorat’s coach.

“In terms of impact that’s for others to measure. I will pride myself on developing our juniors over the last four years,” he said.

“I think in terms of premierships they are obviously a factor but the juniors won it last year and they are going to play off again this year in under 14s and under 17s and the way they played this morning it’s because of the collective group at the footy club.

“You talk around a lot of other footy clubs and there are very few teams doing that and there is a lot of segregation between seniors and juniors.

“So I will hang my hat on that if there is something to hang your hat on and the fact we have been able to break down any barrier between junior and senior and hopefully they can play a style of football they are comfortable with as they move up.”

Finn mentioned Nick Hoare, Luke McConnell and Isaac Kenna as examples of younger Power players finding their way into the senior side who featured in the 22-point loss to the Warriors.

Luke Justin, who was a late withdrawal from Saturday’s game, Ned Payne and Ben O’Sullivan were also players lucky to see strong development with exposure to senior football.

The departing mentor, who will be succeeded by his cousin Ben Walsh, admitted the Warriors were too strong. 

Power defender Paddy Moloney was helped off the ground in the final term with Finn confirming he had departed Reid Oval for hospital with a suspected knee or lower leg injury. 

Ben Fraser was Kolora-Noorat’s best player with his tireless work rate in the Power forward line and up the ground. He kicked four of the eight goals scored by the reigning premiers.