At Waverley Oval on Sunday, Brunswick produced their best four-quarter performance for the season at the most opportune time against South Melbourne Districts – who had won the last three encounters between the sides – to romp away with a preliminary final victory and promotion to Division One, with Elsternwick now the final hurdle to a first senior premiership in 12 years.

What a difference a week makes. Whereas in the second semi-final the NOBs played slow and indirect football, and were terribly inaccurate in front of goal, on Sunday they turned that on its head, moving the ball with speed, creating havoc for the opposition defenders, and taking their chances when they came to score 16.8 in windy and wet conditions, in an altogether impressive display of team footy.

Perhaps starting into the wind helped Brunswick, because in the first quarter they began with great intent, attacking every contest and looking to move the ball forward quickly. This was epitomized by the opening goal of the game to Gus Coverdale who ran onto a clever kick to space by Joe Gale then burnt off his opponents with pace. South Melbourne replied but Jasper Paevere then slotted the second from a free for a ruck infringement. With the aid of a strong breeze, the Swans then kicked the next three, and missed some gettable chances as well, but through excellent team play the NOBs forced the ball forward to Hayden Parker in the square for a late goal, ensuring they stayed within 11 points at the first change.

The real test for the NOBs was whether they could use the wind to their advantage, and they came through that with flying colours, beginning with a major after six minutes to Tom O’Farrell from a set shot. The Swans got one back from a free kick, but that sparked a run of five goals straight in eight minutes as Brunswick gained control of the contest: Gabe Banova kicked truly from 45, Coverdale intercepted a miskick and slammed through one on-the-run, Josh Hedley calmly slotted a long set-shot, Parker snapped from out of-the-pack and Oscar Watt took a strong chest mark and duly converted. The Swans managed to kick one late against the run-of-play, but Brunswick had clearly taken the honours in the first half.

It would come down to the third quarter and whether South Melbourne could wrest back the lead going into the final term, but Brunswick had other ideas, playing their best footy for some time, kick-started by a goal inside 50 seconds to Joe Gale. Heavy rain had arrived and the wind had dropped, but the NOBs were denying the Swans the ball and moving it nicely, as Watt snapped truly for his second, followed by another to Gale, with a brilliant snap of his own. When O’Farrell snagged his second from a holding-the-ball free the margin was out to 39-points and the Swans, who were held scoreless for the term, looked beaten.

In the last quarter, Parker kicked his third and fourth goals, both from holding frees, to cap off a good day in tough conditions for key forwards. The Swans kicked a couple to add a little bit of respectability to their score, but it was James Schmidt who slotted the final goal of the game as the NOBs recorded a memorable 47-point victory.

In a true team effort, Josh Hedley led the way with his work as an inside midfielder and clean disposal skills. Ben Young was fantastic in the ruck, giving the midfielders first use all day, while Banova was again very impressive. Gale relished the move back to the forward line, creating many opportunities, while Will McKenzie on a wing and Josh Hale in defence were excellent all day. Others to impress included key midfielders Ben Wilson and Rowan Hogenbirk, winger Tom Hedley and the returning Lewis White at half-back.

This weekend will be massive for Brunswick as the men’s seniors and reserves play in grand finals, a great feat in itself. Be there as they look to make history and bring home two premierships to Gillon Oval!