Imperials out-muscle Jervois in 2022 River Murray Football League grand final
The Blues have become RMFL premiers after defying history and a strong wind at the Bluds' home ground.
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Imperials have defied history to become River Murray Football League premiers.
The Blues out-muscled the Bluds in Saturday’s A grade grand final at Jervois, winning 11.18 (84) to 7.7 (49).
It was the first time they had beaten Jervois in a grand final in their last nine attempts, dating back to 1967.
“There was a thing going around (at Jervois) that the easiest way to win a flag is to play Imps,” winning player-coach Scott McMahon quipped after the game.
“That was a bit of extra motivation for us.”
Jervois had been gunning for a third successive premiership after beating Imps in each of the last two deciders.
No love was lost between the teams, whose players were ready and willing to scrap at every opportunity.
The match resembled half-court basketball at times, as a strong wind kept the ball at the river end of the ground for much of the first three quarters.
The only question was whether Imperials could withstand the onslaught in the last quarter.
They did better than that – the wind lost its oomph, the red and black flags stopped waving and Imps kicked a few goals uphill to seal a memorable triumph.
Imperials’ Ben Gogel received the Bohdan Cybulka Medal as best on ground in the win.
It was a massive day for Imps in the end.
The club won four of the five premierships on offer, falling short only in the under-16s.
The under-18s win was a highlight, as Noah Attrill-Podirsky snapped a goal over his head in the dying seconds to seal victory.
- Reserves: Imperials 14.7 (91) defeated Mypolonga 5.5 (47)
- Under-18s: Imperials 6.11 (47) defeated Tailem Bend 6.7 (43)
- Under-16s: Tailem Bend 6.1 (37) defeated Imperials 4.6 (30)
- Under-14s: Imperials 6.3 (39) defeated Tailem Bend 2.3 (15)
About 1700 people came to watch the day’s play, despite the unfriendly weather and the fact that only four of the RMFL’s seven clubs were competing.
Scroll down for more photos from the day.
- Order a high-resolution photo: $2 at murraybridgenews.square.site.
