GFL premiership triumph joy for Railways men and Mines Rovers women

It’s all for this.

Sir Richard Moore Sports Centre was the scene of unadulterated joy for Railways’ men’s league team and Mines Rovers’ women’s team on Saturday after their hard-fought Goldfields Football League grand final victories.

The Panthers’ Steven Edwards was named best afield in the men’s grand final, while Railways’ Rosalie Gent was judged best on ground in the women’s clash, despite her side being defeated.

Railways and Mines Rovers were the form sides in their respective competitions, finished as minor premiers, and won their first finals game to go straight through to the big dance.

But they still had to battle hard to win their flags in temperate, breezy conditions, and under a flawless spring blue sky.

Mines Rovers’ women faced up against Railways, who were in their third grand final in a row.

In a low-scoring affair, Mines Rovers prevailed 3.0 (18) to 1.4 (10) to secure their maiden GFLW flag under coach Quinny Matla.

After victories to Mines Rovers in the colts grand final and Boulder in the reserves, favourites Railways took on Kalgoorlie in the league grand final.

But the Panthers, who suffered only one loss all season, struggled to extinguish the Roos’ challenge.

It was only in the final term they surged clear to complete a 28-point victory, 8.15 (63) to 5.5 (35).

The result delivered Railways a second flag in three years and stamped Rhett Pettit as a dual premiership coach — just five years after he launched his senior coaching career with a last-place finish.