Outer East league 2023: Wandin beats Narre Warren by 63 points in Premier division grand final

Peaking at precisely the right time, the Bulldogs blitzed Narre Warren by 63 points in the Outer East league’s Premier division grand final on Saturday.

Their 21.15 (141) to 11.12 (78) victory at Officer denied Narre a third consecutive premiership.

Wandin coach Nick Adam set a grand final expectation before the season and his side achieved that, and more.

Ex-AFL Blue and Kangaroo Aaron Mullett kicked six goals and Patrick Hodgett five, while “ruthless” and relentless midfielder Cody Hirst was best-on-ground.

Clinton Johnson slotted three goals and former Port Adelaide AFL player Joel Garner two as Wandin simply had too many options up forward.

Adam stopped short of labelling this Wandin side the greatest ever in the club’s history — he paid tribute to the 2015 and ‘18 Bulldogs premiership teams — but he did say the ‘23 Dogs possessed one special trait.

“I think the 2015 side would be the one from a talent stand point,” Adam said.

“But the brand of football that this side has been able to produce has been different to anything else that we’ve experienced at the football club.

“It’s really hard to compare generations.

“The 2023 side is pretty special though.”

Wandin led by four points — 31-27 — at quarter time but went up a gear in the second term, kicking seven goals to three, to go into half-time 29 points ahead.

“There’s no doubt if you go into half time of a grand final with a nice lead it only builds on the belief that the group already had in itself,” Adam said.

Wandin’s prime movers Hirst, Hodgett, Mullett, Chayce Black, Joel Garner and captain Patty Bruzzese all produced on the biggest stage of the season.

Narre Warren, with only one loss all season, had momentum at certain stages but didn’t capitalise. Wandin, focused and determined, didn’t allow it.

“I felt like we were able impact their momentum shifts before they hurt us on the scoreboard,” Adam said.

“Our great players were great yesterday and that says a bit about them that they were able to perform on the grand final stage.”

Adam said Hirst was at his “brutal” best in the engine room.

“He just doesn’t stop,” he said.

“It just caps off an unbelievable year for him.

“He is not a big man but he’s just brutal the way he goes about it, contest after contest.

“He’s good when he gets it on the outside but his work on in the inside yesterday was outstanding.

“He’s just a complete player.”

Hirst was drafted by Sydney Swans in May of 2019 and also played VFL with Carlton.

But he’s a proud Wandin product with strong family links to the club.

“He made a decision around what he wanted to get out of his football and it was more than just a transaction to him, he wanted it to be family,” Adam said.

“His brother Daniel played yesterday and is a two time premiership player now. And all his best mates play at the football club…he epitomises what a community club is all about.”

Patrick Hodgett injured a hamstring only a month ago but got back in time to prove a headache for Narre Warren’s defenders with his running ability and long levers.

“He’s ability to work an opponent over, up and back, is his greatest attribute,” Adam said.

“It was just a real reward for him yesterday.”

Adam poured praise on Mullett, who was a grand final star after a frustrating season that saw him miss three months of footy with his first-ever hamstring injury.

“His buy-in to the group was terrific…and then to get hurt and to have that sense of connection by playing taken away from him in his first year at the club, to be able to be as professional in his approach to get his body back…it was a 15 week hammy,’’ Adam said.

“I guess an understanding of what we might be this year helped drive his decision to do the work that was required…

“I was talking to him Friday and I said, ‘let it go tomorrow’, and he did.”

Wandin was in full celebration mode at Clegg Rd on Sunday, but the Bulldogs have already begun looking forward to being stronger again in 2024.

“We’ve been recruiting for the last month,’’ Adam said.

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“And we’ve been in conversation with players we hope will fill some gaps.

“We’re mindful that it’s always changing and you’ve got to be constantly trying to improve on or manage your list.

“There are going to be ins and outs every year and we understand that.’’

Originally published as Outer East league 2023: Wandin beats Narre Warren by 63 points in Premier division grand final