Great Southern Storm end title drought at Great Southern Colts Carnival after dominant grand final display

The Great Southern Storm ended a eight-year title drought after a dominant display in the grand final of the historic Great Southern Colts Carnival in Lake Grace on Sunday afternoon. The two unbeaten teams after the opening day, the Storm and Goldfields, met in the decider of the long-running carnival but it was the Storm who emerged victorious after a clinical final three quarters secured a 42-point triumph. It was the Storm’s first title at the Great Southern Colts Carnival since 2014, ending a period of frustrating grand final defeats. Clever small forward Isaac Williams kicked the first goal of the game but it was Goldfields who would lead at quarter-time as they kicked the next three majors. Early goals from Teague Valli and Todd Brown gave the Storm some much-needed momentum in the second quarter and despite a major from Goldfields’ Paul Bratton, the Storm hit the front before half-time. Mohit Jaggi converted after a free kick and key forward Clay Michael booted his first to give the Storm a five-point half-time buffer. The Storm had begun to get on top around the stoppages in the second term and that continued after the long break as star midfielder Ryley Valli went to work. Valli and his midfield partners won plenty of the ball to drive their side forward, kicking five goals in the decisive period of the game. Although Goldfields pinched one back through a clever snap from Caleb Paparone, the Storm kicked the last four goals going into three-quarter time to set up a match-winning 33-point lead. Michael kicked two goals in the third, Williams added his second from a tight angle on the boundary line and when Teague Valli rolled through a goal on the siren, the Storm were closing in on victory. It was tough going in the final term but Michael marked strongly and booted his fourth to seal the grand final success, 11.8 (74) to 5.2 (32). Storm coach Darrell Panizza said his side improved as the carnival went on. “I couldn’t be prouder of this group and the Great Southern Football League should be as well,” Panizza said. “It’s been a long time since we won one and we went through a diligent process to make sure we gathered the right players. “This group was able to gel together and find that inner strength to absorb physical pressure. “They took physical pain from Ongerup and Peel and then willed themselves back into the game against Goldfields, got on top of them and kept going. “There was this terrific feeling among the group to never give in, play for who was in that jumper and help your mate out and it’s fantastic to come away with a win in a grand final as a result of that. “Our backline was relentless, the midfield was led so well by workhorse Ryley Valli and co and then our forward line, which was potent, finished the job off.” Valli was awarded the Clem Bray award as the fairest and best player in the big game. He was outstanding in the middle, winning a plethora of possessions and clearances and was damaging by hand and foot to set up the Storm win. Kobi Keen was superb in defence, rarely getting beaten, while Williams provided plenty of spark up forward and Michael was again hard to contain. Teague Valli and Saxon Henrickson worked effectively across half-forward and midfielder Colby Law and defender Sebastian Ballard also had plenty of impact for the winners. Goldfields didn’t have a multiple goal kicker and managed only one major after half-time. Panizza said his young squad, which contained two 15-year-olds, was an exciting prospect moving to the Nutrien Country Football Championships in Perth next month. “We have given young players an opportunity and they thrived,” he said. “It’s exciting heading to Nutrien with this young group. “When you ask this group for effort they respond and stand up and in the past we wouldn’t have stood up to the physical pressure that was applied on us this weekend.”