By ROY WARD
AFTER more than 50 years without a premiership, Oakleigh District will have to wait another year following its 11-point grand final loss to East Malvern on Saturday.
The two clubs fought close battles throughout the Southern Football League division 2 season but in the end the Panthers kicked better and took home the premiership and promotion to division 1 for next season.
District coach Steve Wright said his side fell short on the day but would come back better in 2013.
“Naturally it’s pretty shattering,” he said. “You do the hard yards all season and to lose at the end is disappointing. We got pretty close but to their credit they kept coming back and getting a goal when they needed it.”
Wright said kicking and discipline had cost his side on a day when little else separated the two clubs. “The boys gave their all but our kicking cost us,” he said. “Field kicking and kicking for goals at vital times hurt us.
“We were full of running at the end and had our chances. A couple of things went against us and we weren’t as disciplined as we should be and it cost us. We gave away a few silly free kicks, those things that cost you in the end if you are going to win.”
Wright said his side took in the full presentation ceremony and he hoped they would use their pain as motivation for next season.
Wright said he would sit down with the club in the near future and talk about whether he would be coach again in 2013.
Panthers star Trent Hotton was named best on ground. Best player and goal kickers were not provided by the time the Weekly went to print yesterday.
SFL division 2 grand final: East Malvern 4.2, 6.5, 4.1, 9.8, 14.10 (94) d Oakleigh District 3.1, 5.4, 7.10, 12.11 (83)
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