Williamstown CYMS will enter the Victorian Amateur Football Association’s premier division ranks as division 1 champions.
The CYs completed a historic promotion-premiership double with a 56-point triumph over a tired Therry Penola at Visy Park in North Carlton on Saturday.
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CYs coach Mathew Montebello was lost for words after engineering the club’s first premiership since 2009.
“It’s surreal,” he said. “I’ve got no other words to describe it. I’m still trying to let it sink in.”
The CYs never looked back after piling on six goals to one in the opening term. They wound up doubling Therry’s score.
Montebello had two instructions for his team. One was to “run, run, run” at every opportunity; the other was to protect the runners with the defensive acts he has drilled into his side since taking over as head coach.
“The ball movement was fantastic, our pressure was great and everything came from that,’’ Montebello said.
Matt John was nearly impossible to contain, booting six goals for CYs to claim the best-on-ground medal.
“Matty’s struggled with some injuries all year and he got it right at the right time,” Montebello said.
“We always knew he was the ace in our deck and if we could just get him right and play some good footy, he’s going to hurt anyone.’’
The CYs team as a whole had a similar tale to John’s season. They were constantly fighting to retain their double chance, having to play catch-up football from the first half of the season after being beset by injury.
They peaked at the right time, beating Therry in the semi-final and grand final and were the only side to knock the Lions off in this campaign.
Finding a way to stop Therry’s Bannister brothers was high on the priority list for Montebello.
The pair combined for an even 200 goals this season with Jarrod topping the charts on 112 and Corey booting 88.
The CYs’ defensive duo of captain Ben Gray and Ryan Danaher were lauded for their negating work.
“Our backline was a coach’s dream,” Montebello said.
“The midfield also applied the pressure to ensure that when it was going in, it wasn’t going in laces out, which is an integral part.”
Chris Cini, Cameron Oates and Callum Richards were physical at the contest, allowing the CYs running brigade to do their thing.
Kurt Scown and Steven Puhar, who finished with three goals, patrolled the aerial contests.
The premiership seed was planted at CYs at a high-powered meeting back in October.
“I met up with about 12 key senior blokes and I said, ‘Boys, what do you think the place needs?’
“They just put it all out there, so to have it built by them and for them to start with that and take some ownership from there, that was really important.’’
VAFA division 1 grand final
Williamstown CYMS 16.14 (110) d Therry Penola 8.6 (54).
Williamstown CYMS Goals: M. John 6, S. Puhar 3, J. Gray 2, A. Heaver, C. Richards, R. Joy, L. Molan, R. Chan. Best: M. John, B. Gray, R. Danaher, T. Johnstone, T. Murphy, D. Calman-Orr.
