Coolamon wins RFNL premiership by 23 points

THE 13-year wait for another Riverina Football League premiership is finally over for Coolamon after the Hoppers finished a fantastic season in fine style in a grand final thriller at Narrandera Sportsground.

Coolamon found itself behind at quarter-time and three-quarter-time but came home hard with the breeze in the final term and booted four unanswered goals to conquer at Collingullie-Ashmont-Kapooka, 11.17 (83) to 8.12 (60).

CAK took a three-point advantage into the final quarter but was quickly on the back foot when Mitch O'Brien marked and kicked a great goal from the forward pocket.

The Demons had their chances to hit back on the scoreboard but missed three golden opportunities in the middle of the quarter before Coolamon responded with a Ben Fixter goal that was a result of an outstanding end-to-end play from a kick out.

The Fixter goal at the 17-minute mark pushed Coolamon 15 points clear and Adam McKenzie finally put the icing on the cake with a goal inside the final minute.

The 23-point grand final triumph was the perfect finish to an outstanding season from Coolamon.

It lost just the one game, in round 18 to Ganmain-Grong Grong-Matong, and had been the best team throughout the season.

The Hoppers were able to hold out CAK in a tense opening term, where the Demons were wasteful in front of goal and could only manage a 10-point lead at the first break.

The highlight of the opening term was arguably the hit of Coolamon's Lew Roberts on CAK co-captain Kal Sykes, with neither player taking a backward step and resulted in a spectacular collision.

It was Coolamon's turn to waste its chances with the breeze in the second quarter as its gained the ascendency and took a seven-point lead to half-time.

A goal to CAK midfielder Chris Gordon in the final minute of the second term helped the Demons stay in touch.

CAK came out full of running in the third quarter and piled on the first three goals to hit the front and lead by 11 points.

In a tight tussle both teams wasted shots on goal and Coolamon was able to stay with the Demons, and finished the quarter just three points behind.

With the breeze at their backs and the premiership on the line, Coolamon lifted and kicked the only four goals of a thrilling last quarter to seal the drought-breaking premiership win.

In a game of no huge stand outs, Coolamon forward Jake Wiggers was awarded the Ron Hutchins Medal for best-on-ground.

Murray Stephenson was rock solid at full-back, providing plenty of rebound and also keeping CAK star Marc Geppert to two goals.

Connor Neyland was brilliant on CAK danger man Brad Aiken, while Mitch Stephenson, Adam McKenzie and Marshall Macauley also gave great drive from half-back and on the wings.

Wiggers was the most dangerous of the Coolamon forwards but also spent time in the ruck, while Lew Roberts and Ben Fixter were also good up forward.

Ben Edyvean was good in the ruck, and most effective dropping back defensively, while Coolamon had an even spread through the midfield.

Matt and Dan Kennedy were great for the Demons, while Chris Gow worked tirelessly all day.