VIDEO: PRIDE OF PORT DOUGLAS: Petrenko, Chapple inspire Crocs to premiership glory against Saints
HERE IT IS!
The man with the highest profiled job in the competition has delivered when it mattered most on the biggest stage of them all after guiding Port Douglas Crocs to the AFL Cairns premiership against Cairns Saints.
After taking over from former coach Brad Cooper at the start of the season Jared Petrenko had big shoes to fill and he duly showed he was up for the task, kicking two goals and being named best on ground in his side’s 34 point, 79-45 win in this afternoon’s grand final at Cazalys.
The win is sweet redemption for the Crocs having been thumped in last year’s decider against Cairns City Lions.
Crocs mainstay Kye Chapple turned back the clock in a stellar performance kicking six majors, while Dillon Coates, Harvey Moore, Josh Lea, Jayden White, Brandon Kilty, Liam Brandt and Jack Shanahan all played leading roles in the win.
In a pulsating grand final the Crocs lead for much of the contest before a dogged Saints outfit took the lead 38-33 in the 13th minute of the third quarter.
That moment proved the turning point of match, with the Crocs then proceeding to kick five straight goals, three prior to three quarter time, and the first two in the final term to help set up the win.
Leading by 61-39 early in the fourth, Saints reduced the margin to 61-45, but Kye Chapple’s sixth goal sealed yet another premiership for the powerhouse club from Port Douglas.
Earlier, the opening stages proved extremely even with both sides enjoying a fair share of possession. Crocs led 14-6 at quarter time, and 26-24 at the main break, before a four goal to two third term help set up a well deserved win.