MILAWA finished full of running to reel in Moyhu and record a stirring four point win in Saturday's Ovens and King reserves grand final.
In a game of contrasting halves, the Demons trailed by more than five goals at one stage of the second quarter and they were still 25 points adrift at the main break.
But the tide began to turn in the third quarter as Milawa's younger, fitter players started to exert an influence on the game.
Finally hitting the lead at the 15 minute mark of the last quarter, the Demons then had to withstand a late rally from Moyhu as goals from Andrew Startin and Shane Moore twice rekindled the Hoppers' hopes.
When the siren sounded, with the ball deep in Moyhu's forward line, there was no person more relieved than first year Milawa coach Scott Evans.
"I was worried, really worried at half time," Evans said.
"I just spoke to the boys and said we needed to lift right across the board.
"They really responded well. The run of our younger players was fantastic, we started hitting the ball a lot harder and the pressure we put on Moyhu really told in the end.
"I think our players wanted victory just that little bit more and we got the result in the end."
But a Milawa victory looked highly unlikely earlier in the game, as Moyhu burst out of the blocks.
Winger Matt Thewlis ignited the Hoppers and was clearly the best player afield in the first half, while the wily Darren Petersen (four goals) and Wayne Theobold provided reliable targets up forward.
Milawa had few players able to influence the game until Jake Henshall, Simon Pane, Mark Hallinan and best-on-ground medal winner, Justin Keane, started to win the ball cleanly around the middle of the ground and the Demons' forwards did the rest.
Tim Lewis, after a relatively quiet first half, grabbed six contested marks in the third quarter as the Demons made quick, decisive entries into their forward line.
Lewis played a superb five minute cameo, kicking two goals and setting Evans up for another after Wayne Theobold kicked the first goal of the third quarter to give the Hoppers a seemingly comfortable 30 point lead.
Lewis had another telling moment in the fourth quarter when he took a strong contested mark 20m out and kicked truly to give the Demons the lead for the first time a lead they would not surrender.
Another player the Hoppers could not contain was Keane who accumulated high possessions and proved dangerous up forward while resting off the ball.
In winning the premiership, Milawa reversed its only three losses of the home and away season during the finals series.
"We lost to All Blacks, Whorouly and Moyhu during the year, and we beat those three teams in the finals to get this result," Evans said.
"It's a great result.
By - TREVOR MORRIS.
19/09/2011
www.nenews.com.au
CHAMPIONS: Milawa's reserves celebrate their premiership success.
PHOTO: Cheryl Browne
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Last Modified on 19/09/2011 15:30