Eltham topped off a momentous finals campaign with a thrilling four-point win over Greensborough to claim the Division 1 under-19s premiership.
After trailing by four points at three quarter time, the Panthers kicked two goals to one in the final quarter to secure a 7.14 (56) to 7.10 (52) victory.
Jubilant scenes followed the final siren in the Eltham camp after finishing fourth in the home and away season, before winning four consecutive knockout finals to claim the unlikeliest of premierships.
Bronson Glasgow was the deserving winner of the best on ground medal, while teammates Lane Sinclair and Jack Dean were also impressive contributors for the premiers.
Mitch Hill’s forward 50 efforts were terrific for Greensborough, while Lachlan Trudgeon and Thomas Brindley were also standouts for the runners up.
Eltham was in control of the contest early in the first term but some poor kicking in front of goal showed the nerves of the Panthers players.
Adam Currie was able to settle his side and convert his set shot midway through the first quarter to give Eltham an eight-point lead.
The Boro had a few chances late in the term but could only manage two behinds as they went into quarter time seven points adrift.
Greensborough quickly settled in the second term. Its attack on the football looked more feriocious and Mitch Hill eventually rewarded his side with their first goal of the morning early in the quarter.
Eltham wasn’t far out of the contest however, with a Daniel Jarvis goal putting the margin out to double figures again.
Keegan Lyne was able to quickly reply to Jarvis’ major by converting his set shot before Riley Hunt had the last say of the half, with his goal from a difficult angle put Eltham 11 points up at the main break.
Aiming for four-consecutive under-19s premierships, Greensborough came out firing during the third term.
Despite Matthew McLennan’s first and Hunt’s second goal for the morning for Eltham, the Boro looked in control of the contest with a four-goal quarter, which included two goals in time on to give them a four-point advantage at the final break.
The Boro’s brilliant efforts of the third quarter couldn’t be matched in the final term however, after crucial goals from Ben Montanaro and Daniel Jarvis gave the Panthers a 10-point lead 15 minutes into the quarter.
Thomas Phelan’s spectacular mark and goal reduced the margin to four points for the Boro as time on approached.
Kyle Horkings had the opportunity to give Greensborough the lead for just the second time for the match with 26 minutes gone in the last term.
But his set shot was offline, with the siren sounding not long after.
The result gave Eltham it first under-19s premiership in 10 years and provided a positive end to a season in which its seniors were relegated from Division 1.
Final score: Greensborough 7.10 (52) def by Eltham 7.14 (56)
