TALLANGATTA pulled off one of the great grand final heists on Saturday, stealing the Tallangatta League grand final from under the noses of Kiewa Sandy Creek in the dying seconds.
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The Hoppers and Hawks were locked away at 68-points apiece at the final siren, sending the game into ten minutes of extra time.
Guy Telford's second goal put the Hawks one straight goal in front just before the change of ends at the five-minute mark.
The ball was a hot potato for the last five minutes, but a mark and goal to Tallangatta forward James Breen, followed by a behind to Brent Hibberson, had the scores level with around two minutes remaining.
It was a scramble from then on, but the Hoppers were able to lock the ball in their forward 50 and eventually muster a match-winning behind.
Tallangatta coach Zac Fulford was over the moon for his side after the final siren.
“It was exhilaration at the end there,” Fulford said.
“It was overwhelming to be honest.
“We weren't really looking at the scoreboard, but we knew we had 30 seconds left to play.
“Going into the game we knew it would come down to the wire, and it probably went a bit further than that, but we got there in the end.”
Agony for Kiewa was pure elation for Tallangatta, who turned a wooden spoon last year into a premiership.
The Hoppers were the only side this year to beat Kiewa, getting the better of them in both of their finals meetings.
The game ebbed and flowed, but it was Kiewa that ultimately kicked themselves out of the game, with 21 behinds for the day.
Every miss kept the Hoppers in the hunt, after the Hawks were able to reel in the fast-starting Tallangatta.
The dying moments of the fourth quarter had fans from both sides on the edge of their seats.
A Kyle Lieschke goal put the Hoppers in front by four points late in the piece, before Breen made it a five point difference.
The next clearance went to Kiewa, who were able to lock it down in their forward line before a Scott Bartel snap put them one point up.
But Lieschke bobbed up again, scrambling through a behind as nearly every player on the ground descended on Tallangatta's forward half.
Mikal Bloom won the Wayne Bartel medal for best on ground, with Brendan Dess and Tim Brook also strong, booting two goals apiece.
Mark Hortle and Luke Norton-Smith battled hard in the ruck all day for Kiewa, while Guy Telford and Leigh Cameron were both kept quiet, though Telford had his moments despite some good work from Tallangatta full back Darcy Carroll.
We knew it'd come down to the wire, but it went way closer than that.
- Zac Fulford
