World Footy News

Wanderers Eagles have completed an amazing fairy-tale at TIO Stadium in Darwin tonight when they defeated St Marys to win the 2014/15 NTFL Grand-Final. Six weeks ago no-one would have predicted, or written, this result, yet Wanderers pulled of one of the most miraculous victories and wrote the happiest possible ending to their story.

It was the nearest thing to a David versus Goliath story in many, many years, and David did indeed slay Goliath.

To scenes of unbridled joy, Wanderers fans jumped the fences in ecstasy when the final siren sounded, bringing to a close an emotional, exciting and almost unbelievable run from sixth place to premiers.

Final Scores: Wanderers 11 17 83 d St Marys 7 7 49.
In a tough first half it was Wanderers leading at the quarter time and half time breaks. Whilst they were clearly the better team, many felt that Saints would have another gear and unleash a premiership winning third quarter. However, it wasn’t to be as Wanderers extended their lead further to be 27 points up at three-quarter time.

The last quarter saw Wanderers squander goal after goal, kicking 3 9 to 3 2, as they just failed to completely bury St Marys, but it was former Gold Coast Suns player, Liam Patrick, who kicked the absolute sealer moments from the end and his third for the night.

Both teams had players who influenced the game, but great games from Chaney Medal (best afield in grand-final) winner Thomas Motlop (one of six Motlops in the team), former North Melbourne premiership player Shannon Motlop with two lifting goals and Nic Natanui lookalike, Neil Vea Vea saw the “Muk Muks” (the local indigenous word for “wanderers”) home.

Another famous AFL name stood out for the Saints with Shannon Rioli doing his best to keep them in the game, along with three goals from key forward Darren Ewing. But in the end the firepower that got St Marys through a dominant home and away season deserted them on the night that mattered most.

Quarter By Quarter

Wanderers: 4 3 27 – 5 6 36 – 8 8 56 – 11 17 83
St Marys: 2 2 14 – 2 4 16 – 4 5 29 – 7 7 49

For Wanderers this was their 13th premiership, and was their first since the 2010/11 season. But the talk of the town is their amazing ride, coming from heavy defeats in Rounds 16 and 17 which saw them in sixth place and facing an early end to the season, to win all of their finals matches and storm to glory.

Excited commentators and enthusiasts were pawing through record books nationally to see how many teams in history have pulled off such a remarkable run to ultimately win a premiership. Most Eagles fans, however, know that it matters little – they have the 2014/15 flag now and will spend the winter months preparing their title defence for the 2015/16 season in October.

Of course, that is AFTER they well and truly celebrate tonights amazing premiership win in style.

Muk Muk style..!!