Chris Lee, The Buloke Times
Calder United has pulled off a remarkable grand final win in its first season as a combine of the old Nullawil and Wyche-Narraport teams with a 10 point victory over a gallant Birchip-Watchem in what was an enthralling contest, epic in fact, held at Wedderburn’s Donaldson Park.
Picture perfect were conditions and the two protagonists dished up an absolute classic for the huge crowd. A record number was in attendance with the contest going down to “edge of your seats” stuff, where the Lions determinedly dug in to hold out the Bulls who kept coming but ultimately fell short in a gripping finish. A game for the ages, it just delivered in spades, multiple lead changes, white hot contest, pressure everywhere, brilliant individual plays, spectacular marks, intrigue; it’ll be talked about in hushed tones for years, much like the famous 1989 grand final between Hawthorn and Geelong.
A brilliant five goal third quarter by Calder set up its historic victory, turning around a two-goal half-time deficit into a 14-point three quarter-time lead, which the Bulls were unable to reel in despite kicking two in the opening four minutes of the absorbing last quarter, to bring it back to a four point ball game. Momentum was running the Bulls’ way, but those brave Lions stuck in, defended as if their lives depended on it and when the day’s outstanding player, Steve Kennedy cooly slotted a set shot from 40 metres out at the 10 minute mark, curtailing the Bulls’ run, that was it for scoring. Thereafter the Lions just locked down, Wallabies’ rugby style. Scrum after scrum across the park, piling in over the top, defending at all costs, the Bulls chucked everything at it but still the Lions held out, remarkable, brave, talented, out on their feet but victors.
Both sides are supremely talented and to a man nothing was left in the tank. A physically taxing game, players spent at the end, supporters spent as well, roaring ,on their players but there can only be one winner and that was Calder United. It was an extraordinary feat in its first year as an amalgamated club; huge achievement to put two rival clubs together, overcome fierce differences, meld the personalities, some of them big, and then deliver on the park which they did in style, winning the reserves premiership as well for good measure.
To do so has taken astute leadership and there’s none better than Rick Allan. He was emerging years ago as he faced a herculean challenge to keep his beloved Wyche-Narraport Demons afloat for a number of years, when plenty wanted to fold, and now has successfully welded Nullawil and the Demons together. Huge achievement and even more amazing that at 38 years of age he too was out on the park playing a significant role.
The Lions had chucked everything, including the kitchen sink, into having a successful inaugural season, recruiting hard and large and that paid in spades Saturday with victory. No doubt it tasted even sweeter in knocking off their nearest neighbours the Bulls, who yet again have to lick their wounds, with a narrow grand final defeat, second in a row by less than two goals and they’ve played off in six of the last seven, winning only the one.
It was Birchip-Watchem who came out hard and fast first. Unlike their previous second semi-final encounter where the Lions completely dominated the first stanza, it was the Bulls’ turn to inflict first damage. Within a minute of play commencing, big forward Ben Edwards, who’d been having a quiet finals campaign, had marked and goaled and then not two minutes later was on the end of a downfield free to Nick Rippon with another, a brilliant start and up and about. Disaster for the Lions, their inspiring captain and brilliant playmaker Jordy Humphreys down and out with a hamstring tear limping off; Dad Wade, the club powerbroker down to the bench, on the phone, impossible to bring back the genius masseur Pat Allen from the grave though. Jordy had been instrumental in their second final win.
The midfield contest was white hot as expected, the big, big men Hamish Hosking and Dean Putt locking horns and going at it. Kobe Lloyd, Kennedy, Matt Wade opposed to Marshall Rippon, Daniel Bell and Meyrick Buchanan, talent packed, tough as teak, no quarter given, every possession hard fought. The Bulls just found a way through, needle through threads, their back six streaming forward, creating space and they had command. Kennedy with a 45-metre set shot with a slight breeze at his back got the Lions off the mark before Lachy Foott finished off some good end-to-end work where the Bulls had moved the ball with polish, beginning with Angus Butterfield on to Marsh Rippon, Lach Ryan and Nick Rippon to wind out the lead.
Rylee Smith with a decent strike at the 18-minute mark got the Lions within range but the Bulls were dominating; such a change from the second semi, they were crisp with their ball movement, hard at the contest, pouncing on loose balls and looking the goods. Edwards with his third for the quarter pushed them out to a 3-goal margin before Wade, with a big 50-metre set shot, got the Lions third just prior to the bell. Ripper contest, stage had been well and truly set for a classic encounter, punters in for a day out.
Bulls had been ferocious, winning the contests with their pressure and their outside speed from down back, hurting the Lions on the rebound. Captain Dale Hinkley was intercepting everything that came in and then driving it forward with aplomb. Not to be outdone, president Rick roaming hard and far across half forward, with a good strike, got his Lions off to a perfect start within 5 minutes before Edwards with a miracle banana kick, off a step using all his guile slotted the impossible. It was a Hail Mary before the dangerous forward Mitch Farmer replied almost instantly. This was developing into all time classic, despite the intense pressure being applied, unreal skills were present, Zac Caccaviello across half-back active and busy mopping up the many contested balls as they hit the ground to repel the Bulls’ many forward entries. Big gun mid-season recruit Dale Pearce pulled in a specky, leaping high, but was unable to finish the set shot. The Bulls had started their big time finals player Ben Lakin on Pearce, and he was keeping him subdued whilst delivering many an attacking forward thrust; this game had everything. Edwards then slotted his fifth for the half, some game he was having, leading hard, pulling in the contested marks, providing a critical target and kicking truly.
Knuckling down, the Lions had pulled the contest back to two goals by the long break, halting the Bulls’ momentum. Wade, Lloyd and rhinoceros tough joint captain Koby Hommelhoff just buried in at the contest and hurt on the outside, Wade was building a high possession count and Lloyd was creative breaking lines. These Lions were up for the contest but the Bulls had their noses in front.
Talent packed Lions just strutted their stuff in a super impressive third quarter, often referred to as the championship quarter and so it proved to be. Zane Keighran, a dangerous, possession gathering midfielder got them off to a perfect start and then Smith, getting very active roaming across the park, those long summer runs around Tchum Lake providing him the endurance with a superb set shot deep up against boundary levelled up the goal tally. This was going down to the wire. Tom Gibson rewarded the hard running work of youngster Austin Dean with a goal after he’d been hit up, the Bulls back with a buffer before Pearce broke a hard tackle and snapped truly. Ding dong battle, neither side giving an inch before the Lions powered away with two more to end a terrific quarter for them. Not a minute after Pearce’s major, Lloyd slotted another and then at the 24-minute mark Keighran, cool as a cucumber, with a 50-metre set shot, pushed out their lead to a game high 14 points and with all the momentum, Bulls supporters forlorn.
What did they have? Coach Ash Connick pleaded for one last giant commitment, they needed to bury in, attack. True to an indomitable spirit the Bulls came hard. Hosking started winning the midfield ball-ups, banging it forward at every opportunity as his coaches demanded. Gibson, who’d been getting better the further the game went, up forward with a strong mark, got them off to the best start possible, goaling at the 2-minute mark. Then the hard working Buchanan goaled, two goals in four minutes, this game having more swings and roundabouts than Bangkok in peak hour, now the Bulls with all the momentum. Just 4 points in it, brilliant, absorbing contest, at least 20 minutes to play, more injury drama for the Lions, the high flying forward Pearce grounded with a hamstring tear as he stretched just a little too much leading to mark, which he had, tried to take his shot but to no avail and forlorn headed to the bench. Done for the day.
When the going gets tough, the tough get going and Lions’ hard heads did exactly that. Daniel Watts down back in everything, whether it be spoiling the mark coming in or burying in hard at ground level, Kennedy who’d had a brilliant match, continued to gather possessions refusing to lie down; in fact nobody was, there wasn’t a poor player on the park. Caccaviello who’d apparently been under pressure to hold his spot, just marshalled the defensive area, clearing out ball after ball as the Bulls continued to pummel ball inwards, but they couldn’t score against a thoroughly determined Lions defence.
Kennedy, superb, commanding from the midfield and rightfully judged best afield with the Des Darcy medal then added to his sublime performance with a cucumber cool 40 metre set shot at the 10 minute mark to take the sting out of the Bulls’ momentum. He’d been everywhere, roamed the ground like the Leyland brothers; down back helping his defenders, up forward creating a loose player. Still plenty of time if the Bulls were good enough, 15 minutes to go.
The Lions knuckled down, locked on to any running Bull, contest after contest, Bulls couldn’t get free air, Lions desperate and ferocious, Bulls same, the contest just giving and giving, clock ticking down. Edwards grabbed a mark 50 metres out but didn’t make the distance, then another, same result, oh it was some game, stakes couldn’t be higher, players spent but still giving.
Then Smith took the game to heights it hadn’t been with the most spectacular leap and contested grab right in front of the big crowd. Touched the clouds he did. Quite unbelievable and he was having an unbelievable second half, it was his across the park running that had got them back into the contest and then in front. Just when you thought the game couldn’t go any higher, it had. Phew, an absolute blockbuster.
Still the Bulls attacked, still the Lions held out, the ball continually in the Bulls’ front half but no cigars. Clock past 24 minutes, it couldn’t go much longer and didn’t. Lions home in one of the best grand finals of all time. Sensational match, there can be only one winner and Calder United had landed a heralded result in their first season. Just unreal, wild scenes enveloped Donaldson Park as their ecstatic supporters stormed the pitch to celebrate their milestone victory with players. It had been epic, no other word for it.
The Bulls endured another narrow grand final loss, no shame, they had played their hearts out, they are a proud strong club and will bounce back hard have no doubt, Coach Connick was philosophical after the game and announced that he would lead the club in 2026.
Calder United was simply magnificent, bounced back after a slow start and delivered. The Lions had significant talent across every line rewarding their big recruiting program and completed the fairytale result for ebullient supporters.
Final score: Calder United 11.14 (80) d. Birchip-Watchem 10.10 (70).
Best players for Calder United: Steve Kennedy, Zac Caccaviello, Kobe Lloyd, Rylee Smith, Koby Hommelhoff.
For Birchip-Watchem: Ben Lakin, Meyrick Buchanan, Ben Edwards, Nick Rippon, Hamish Hosking, Lach Ryan.
See all the photos in the issue.
This article appeared in The Buloke Times, 16 September 2025.
