Cairns Saints player-coach Mark Kennedy says his side's 57-point win in the AFL Cairns grand final was the best day of his life.
When you realise Kennedy could not exaggerate if his life depended on it, then his declaration takes on a different light.
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Many of the footy fans at Cazalys Stadium on Saturday had hoped for a classic season decider – two teams at the peak of their powers duelling for the premiership crown.
What they saw instead was one side, regarded as the league’s best by the magnitude of its regular-season dominance, fulfil a long-heralded destiny with a 14.19 (103) to 5.16 (46) victory over South Cairns.
There was more than a hint of atonement in the victory for Saints, who were overrun by Manunda in last year’s grand final.
Soaking in the atmosphere of his teammates’ celebrations with deep contentment painted on his face, Kennedy said he was not surprised his side had won by so much.
"We’ve been beating teams like that all year," he said. "It’s just reward for a consistent
season.
"When you start coaching it turns your whole football world upside down. You don’t just play for yourself – you’re involved with every single person in the club.
"I’m proud of everyone who played today."
Both teams started the match nervously and were guilty of making simple skill errors while the respective midfields swapped the Sherrin in
the centre.
The first goal came in the 12th minute courtesy of Crathern Medallist James Coatsworth, who snapped on the run in the left pocket.
By the end of the quarter the Saints had four majors on the board with forwards Matt Walsh and Jason Eagle both contributing.
Realising the danger they faced, a desperate Souths tried to fight back with the help of the breeze.
Steve Davies kicked his side’s first for the day six minutes into the second term but Saints had the better of the quarter, booting five goals to Cutters’ three, and led by 38 points at the break.
The Cutters’ premiership hopes hinged on what they could produce in the third term but hopes of a fightback quickly faded.
Under pressure from Saints’ midfield, the Cutters kept turning the ball over and were punished on the scoreboard.
As shadows lengthened across the ground, Eagle (six goals) was happy to grab the spotlight, marking strongly, goaling and setting up teammates in a best-on-ground clinching burst.
The Cutters were left goalless for the term and when the sides returned for the season’s last quarter the only question left was how much would Saints win by.
Club pride did not allow the Cutters the luxury of giving up and if not for some inaccurate kicking they would have made more up than three points.
But Cutters coach Steve Daniel conceded the game was ultimately lost in the second quarter.
"We had the breeze but they (Saints) kicked I think five or six into it and that just killed us," he said.
"The whole game plan – the way we thought it was going to go – didn’t go our way and we were chasing arse for the rest of the game."
