The Baldivis Brumbies claimed their second premiership in four years with a second-quarter barrage leading them to an upset victory over minor premiers Rockingham on Saturday afternoon.
Blaine Johnson orchestrated the damage up front while Mal Smith medalist Aden Feild led a midfield storm as the Brumbies dominated after the quarter time break, booting six goals to the Rams' none in the period to set up a 5.7 (37) to 11.10 (76) victory.
The onslaught came on the back of a tussle in the first quarter, with Rockingham looking good in the early goings despite Johnson nailing the first goal after Travis Naughton coughed up a 50m penalty for an off-the-ball hit on Brumbies forward Ben Higgs.
Tyler Sutton responded for the Rams, taking a courageous mark and nailing the set shot before Braden Piggott gave them some breathing space with a goal on the cusp of the quarter time break.
Rockingham appeared in control of the game but that slipped dramatically in the second, with Baldivis completely taking over.
Their blazing run began when Johnson ran into an open goal to notch his second, before Joel Ritchie followed suit not long after.
With Field and James Russell dominant in the midfield Johnson was able to snare his third and fourth not long after, in a display that was looming as an ominous one for Rockingham defenders.
Higgs piled on another when he converted after an oustanding contested mark, and ruckman Josh Branchi chimed in just before the half time siren to extend the margin to five goals at the long break.
It was a run that broke the game open and would go on to define the Brumbies' second league premiership as a club, as Rockingham failed to claw back in the second half.
The Rams fought hard towards the end of the third as a sense of urgency began to press as time slowly ticked away, but a lone major to Ross Elliott medalist Steve Kenny did little to dent Baldivis' lead.
Young gun Ben Otto dared to give the Rams' hope when he brought the margin back within four goals in the opening minutes of the fourth, but the work of Tate Ralph helped keep them at bay.
A goal to Lachlan Mitchell all but sealed the deal on the victory, before Russell was able to cap his magnificent finals series with the final goal of the season to deliver Baldivis to glory.
It's a rough trot for the Rams who's 22-year premiership drought is now bound to stretch to 23, but it's a sweet taste for the Brumbies who make it two flags in four seasons.
Justin Rake
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
Sports journalist for the Mandurah Mail, Australian Community Media, Fairfax Media.
