THE best team all year is now the best team of all time.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Minor premier Koroit etched itself into the Hampden league record books on Saturday, winning its fifth consecutive flag to wrest the title from Warrnambool.
The Saints’ gritty 8.9 (57) to 6.10 (46) win over Camperdown at Reid Oval followed their back-to-back victories over the Blues in 2014-15, North Warrnambool Eagles in 2016 and Port Fairy in 2017.
An emotional Chris McLaren, who has coached the past two flags, said the enormity of the achievement would take time to dawn on the club.
“The club’s had some promotion stuff about it, which is fantastic, but as a group the players haven’t even talked about it once I don’t think,” he said post-game on Reid Oval.
“Our motivation is always for the boys who haven’t played in one and we had four play today and I am happier for those four (players) than I am for our five (flags in a row) to be honest. They get to experience what a lot of the other boys have.”
McLaren said the Saints would reflect on the achievement, which bettered the Blues’ run of four flags in the 1980s, over “a quiet beer and some time together”.
“Five in a row, (it’s) the record a powerhouse club like Warrnambool has had for so long and they probably beat up on Koroit for a long, long, long time,” he said.
“There’s no doubt a few of the older boys think we’ve pinched something out of Warrnambool’s trophy cabinet.”
Koroit was forced to work for its slice of history with McLaren conceding “I think I lost 20 years off my life today”.
The Magpies, who showed no nerves in their first decider in 12 years, appeared to break the stalemate in the third term when Nick Bateman marked a Saints’ turnover out of defence.
A 50m penalty ensued with Bateman – the Pies’ sole link to their 2006 grand final side – putting them in front 32-31 20 minutes into the third term.
Eddie Lucas pounced on a spillage two minutes later with momentum in the Magpies’ camp.
Jarrod Korewha responded for the Saints with one point separating the sides at the final change.
Koroit kicked three goals to one to stamp its authority.
The match finished with tension with Saint Will Couch reported for a high hit after taking a mark.
A melee ensued as the siren sounded.
McLaren was proud of the Saints’ strong final-term.
“The last quarter was through the roof,” he said.
“I can’t believe they had that in them to be honest.”
