The Leopold community is coming off a weekend of celebration after the Lions took out their second GFNL senior premiership, with a 50-point win over South Barwon at Memorial Park on Saturday.
The Garry Hocking led side was dominant all day on its way to a 13.16 (94) to 6.8 (44) victory in near perfect conditions.
Polders star Logan Wagener capped off a massive season for the premiers, winning best-on-ground honours after finishing equal-fourth in the Mathieson Medal and earning a spot in the GFNL Team of the Year.
“I’m sort of just a role player in the mids there but I think because (my teammates) are so good I learned off them and they get all the attention,” Wagener said.
“Sometimes I get off the chain a bit and (Trent West) is just phenomenal,” he said.
“Anything I sort of get is just off the back of those guys.”
Wagener, who crossed to the Lions at the start of last year after spending much of his time with Newcomb in the BFNL, said the Leopold community will be soaking up the win.
“I’m just so keen to celebrate with all the boys and all the fans, we’ve got the best supporters in the comp,” he said.
“I’m just really proud of the effort, you see and get the result today, but it’s 10 months of hard work.
“Not only the players and coaches, but all the volunteers as well, I can’t wait to celebrate with everyone.
“It’s something we’ll remember forever.”
Sharpshooter Mitch Patten capped off a dominant finals series for Leopold booting four goals for the winners, making it 15 majors across the four finals games for the Lions.
Skipper Marcus Thompson and ruckman Trent West also stood up in the middle, while Sam Scott Mitchell Burgess rounded out the best players on the day for the Polders.
It was a special day for coach Buddha Hocking who put some demons to rest, after missing out several times at VFL/AFL level as a player for Geelong and assistant coach post-playing days.
“All you do is dream to have a premiership medal as a player or a coach, it’s all come together today,” Hocking said.
“It’s a lot of hard work, your family, wife and kids who invest so much into it, I’m absolutely over the moon for the footy club and the players, it’s just nice to be involved in one.”
