THE end of their school days couldn't get much better for the year 12 students in The Riverina Anglican College's Carroll Cup side.
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After a five-goals-to-none first quarter blitz set up their 9.4 (58) to 2.4 (16) final win over Mater Dei Catholic College, the players took the cup to the fence where their supporters, who were unable to enter Robertson Oval due to COVID protocols, had been peering through to watch the game.
They belted out the team song, and finally their lone triumph in 2013 had a companion.
It's a football cliche, but certainly true on this occasion. The boys in green and white wanted it more, particularly early, as their dominant first quarter shocked their opponents.
When Ethan Weidemann goaled early in the second quarter to give TRAC a six-goal lead, Mater Dei were virtually resigned to a fourth straight defeat in the final after losing the previous three deciders to Kildare Catholic College.
Mark Gooden medallist Brayden Glyde was superb throughout for TRAC while Sam McCready, captain Matt Hamblin and ruckman Gerard Okerenyang weren't far behind.
The TRAC year 12s, including Glyde, had graduated earlier that day and he said they wanted to make it a memorable day.
"Everyone wanted it and especially on year 12's last day we wanted to make the most of it and go out on a high," he said.
"From the start we wanted to make sure we got the intensity up and make us chase us, that's why we won.
"We know we have a very strong forward line and they capitalised."
Mater Dei kicked their only two goals of the game in the second term through Baxter Wallett and Jacob Ferguson to close to within 24 points. But TRAC's pressure told as they kicked the only three goals of the second half.
"That was the difference really, our attitude and effort was there for the entire game," TRAC coach Mick Glanvill said.
The year 12s graduated today and have been at the college for six years and played a lot of footy for us, it was good to send them off like that."
Mater Dei coach Nathan Irvine said the team was disappointed they couldn't match TRAC's intensity early in the contest.
"You can't give a team like that that much of a start," he said.
"We didn't stick our tackles and put them under pressure, so they took their chances when they went forward.
"That's normally what we pride ourselves on and we didn't start that way, it was too hard to work our way back in after that."
Mater Dei's Jamie Mooney was named player of the series.
CARROLL CUP FINAL
The Riverina Anglican College 5.1 6.3 8.3 9.4 (58) def Mater Dei Catholic College 0.1 2.1 2.2 2.4 (16) at Robertson Oval on Wednesday night.
GOALS: TRAC - Jacob Manley 2, Brayden Glyde, Matt Hamblin, Sam Stening, Ethan Weidemann, Sam McCready, Joe Perryman, George Carn; Mater Dei - Baxter Wallett, Jacob Ferguson
BEST: TRAC - Brayden Glyde, Sam McCready, Gerard Okerenyang, Callum Burns, Billy Glanvill, Matt Hamblin, Royce Hunter; Mater Dei - Xavier Heeney, Angus Curry, Harry Russell-Wichman, Angus Grigg
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