Dingos Three-peat

October 3, 2005 by Bill Frampton | View Comments (0)

The Ontario Australian Football League's 17th Grand Final was played Saturday at Humber North Oval in Toronto. The defending champion Toronto Dingos were next in line for the surging Lakeshore Rebels under sunny skies and 24° temperatures.

A close game was anticipated since the two teams had split their two meetings this season one win apiece. Lakeshore won by 24 points in Round 6 and the Dingos by 55 points in Round 12.

The ground was dry and firm with a steady but variable breeze across the ground that generally favoured the team kicking toward the goal at the north end. The Dingos won the toss and showed their confidence by electing to kick to the south end of the ground.

The slight breeze favoured the Rebels from the opening bounce, but the first quarter was tight with both defenses meeting the challenge when the ball came their way. Scoring opportunities were at a premium with both teams determined not to let the other get on top. It was thirteen and a half minutes before a goal was kicked, with the Dingos' Glen Fowler gaining possession when the ball spilled from a marking contest and snapping the first goal of the game. The only goal of the quarter saw the Dingos in front at quarter-time, 1.4 10 to 0.1 1.

The crowd knew both teams were determined as the second quarter got underway. The game remained tight and the Rebels notched a vital goal at the 8:40 mark when Kevin Duffy split the big sticks. The Rebels' back line played tough too, with Sean Duffy getting his hand to the only Dingos' shot that wasn't offline to prevent a major score at the other end, and once again only one goal was kicked in the quarter. The Dingos clung to a slim lead at half-time, 1.8 14 to 1.2 8.

As the second half started, both teams showed their determination to pull ahead in this tight contest. The Dingos gave themselves a little breathing space at the 2:50 mark when Jamie Prescott goaled from a free kick about 25 metres out directly in front and Lakeshore's Peter Borman was sin-binned for dissent on the call. Ironically Borman's sin-binning inspired the Rebels and they took the play to the Dingos but failed to kick a goal until Jonathan McCarthy kicked truly 13:30 into the quarter to tighten the game up again. At three-quarter time the Dingos still led by 3 points, 2.8 20 to 2.5 17.

The 2005 Grand Final was still in the balance with 20 minutes left to play. Both teams' supporters in the crowd cheered in support, but it was the Dingos who came out stronger. They got the ball up forward but didn't kick truly for goal, managing a few behinds to nudge the margin to just more than a goal. With the minutes ticking down the Rebels needed to score twice to pull in front and they threw everything into the effort but the Dingos' backline could sense victory was within reach. They rebuffed the last few Lakeshore attacks and when the siren sounded the Dingos had won their third straight OAFL title by a score of 2.13 25 to 2.5 17.

The closest playoff race in OAFL history produced one of the tightest Grand Finals ever, albeit very low-scoring. There being no Canadian Nationals at this time, the Dingos are once again the winners of the Conacher Cup, fittingly named in honour of the greatest all-round athlete in Canadian sports history.