AMAZING, unreal, special, bloody stoked - Bathurst Bushrangers co-coach Tim Hunter used all those words to describe Saturday's 19-14-128 to 8-4-52 AFL Central West men's tier one grand final win over the Bathurst Giants and all of them were apt.
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While the Giants played with plenty of heart in the decider at George Park 2, the Bushrangers showed why they were touted as premiership favourites before a Sherrin had even been kicked in 2020.
The return to just one Bushrangers team in the top grade highlighted the depth of talent at the club as they won all eight regular season games to claim the minor premiership by 16 points then led the decider from the fourth minute onward.
"It's just amazing," Hunter said.
"We had an amazing year, but no-one ever remembers who finishes top in the minor premiership or who went through the round games undefeated.
"So credit to the boys, they had to stand up today and that was the best game we've played in many a year I reckon.
"Obviously we went in as favourites, but we really did an amazing job and we're bloody stoked. Undefeated, that was really special."
Giants skipper Shaun Noyen conceded the Bushrangers "were just more classy on the day."
"There is only so much you can do, they just got a loose man out on the contest and were just better on the day," he said.
"There's nothing you could fault from our boys, we dug in deep and tried hard in that last quarter, we just couldn't keep up."
Though disappointed with how the decider unfolded, Noyen can see the potential in his squad as many of them conceded age and experience to their rivals.
While Saturday's win made it back-to-back premierships for the Bushrangers and their seventh top grade title since joining the league in 2004, this year was the first time the Giants had made a senior men's grand final.
Noyen knows what the Giants achieved this year - they came from sitting last in round six to reach Saturday's grand final - will make them more of a force in seasons to come.
"We'll learn from this, we'll get better next year and we'll give them a run for their money next year. A majority of these boys are under 19s," he said. "To to get these boys back and those from the 17s squad to move up, it's going to be bloody fantastic.
"We'll keep amongst it and get the flag one year."
It was the Giants who booted the first goal of the decider after just 65 seconds, Sam Sloan's snap from the left pocket bouncing favourably through the sticks.
But the Bushies got on the board in the second minute with a thumping Charlie Flude kick from the edge of the 50 metre circle.
Then, 29 seconds later after Peter Grundy found the mark, the Bushrangers had the lead.
Flude soon had his second major and while Oscar Mann pulled one back for the Giants, the side in charcoal and grey was battling as they faced the gusting wind.
The Giants had three set shots for the quarter fail to even result in a behind, while same wind which hampered them, the Bushrangers relished. Bill Watterson at one stage landed a thumping 70 metre kick straight onto the chest of his team-mate on the lead inside 50.
That was one of many highlights for Watterson, who was named best on ground in the grand final for the second consecutive year.
By quarter-time the Bushrangers were on top with a 7-2-44 to 2-1-13 lead, but in the second term the Giants had the wind assist and came back at the hot favourites.
Sloan perfectly curled one in seven minutes into the period and when another major followed soon after, the Giants were back within 15 points of the lead.
Watterson responded when he kicked his second goal of the contest, but Cooper Brien hit back to keep the Giants in touch.
However, the final 90 seconds of the quarter stung the Giants as firstly Jason Masclet soccered one off the ground through for the Bushrangers then Grady Tapping found the target after taking a brilliant over-head grab.
That made it 10-5-65 to 5-2-32 at half-time and from there the Bushrangers went on with the job.
With Watterson and Andrew James dominating in the middle and the Bushrangers' halfback line shutting down the Giants as they tried hard to stay in the contest, the margin blew out in the third term.
Bushrangers co-coach Matt Archer booted five goals for the period, his best being number four as he beat two Giants defenders on the top of the circle and then split the sticks.
The Giants managed just one major for quarter to see the Bushrangers leading 17-10-112 to 6-2-38 at the final change.
Though it was clear the Bushrangers were headed for victory, the Giants - as had been a trademark of their performances this season - continued to fight.
The Giants kicked two goals in the first three minutes of the final term, but Watterson and Sam Kennedy added majors for the Bushies to ice the win.
The full-time siren brought with it scenes of jubilation for the Bushrangers.
"We just had 19 contributors and every single one of them was unreal. We just have so many unsung heroes in the side, people who might not get the kicks or the goals, but they just do their job week in and week out," Hunter said.
"I think that's what really set the scene for us this year.
"Like credit to all clubs who got a team up and going this year, but to field three senior men's teams and a women's side, it is a real credit to our club and what we stand for."
