From firebrand to settled ruckman

Wangaratta’s Zac Leitch is the smallest remaining ruckman at only 190 centimetres and he’s tempered his early aggression.

“I’m probably not losing my head as much and playing calmer football,” he said.

“I’m not taking too much so personally I guess, just focus on playing the ball and not worry about the big hits and damaging other players really.”

Coach Dean Stone is a massive supporter of the 23-year-old.

“Zac’s really important to us and he plays his best footy when he’s aggressive, but he’s just taken away that silliness that he probably had,” he said.

“A couple of years ago where he’d win a free kick and then give it back to them.

“He’s undersized as a ruckman, but again he competes and gets himself in the right spot.

“I thought he and ‘Fraze’ (Frazer Dent) in the ruck were really good and played crucial roles.”

Leitch also kicked his first goal with a check-side.

Tigerish on-baller Matt Kelly was superb against the Pigeons and nabbed one of the more unusual marks.

Yarrawonga’s Mark Whiley had tried to pinpoint a pass for Tyler Bonat and Kelly was, realistically, just trying to get between the ball and Bonat to distract him as he was running with the flight of the ball.

Somehow, the ball stuck to his chest as the pair crashed to ground.

“You don’t find many players in the competition that compete like Matt,” coach Dean Stone said.

Stone was also delighted with his defenders, with lethal left-footer Ben Douthie starring.

“Early on, I thought our back six just defended unbelievably,” Stone said.

“I think we kept them to no inside 50s, it might have been in the third quarter.

“That’s a side that’s been in the final for many years (12).”

It was the Pies’ first finals in six years and first win since the 2009 elimination final.