21/09/2026
🏆 HEATHERTON FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB – 2026 PREMIERS 🏆
GRAND FINAL MATCH REPORT
THE CUP IS COMING HOME TO THE TUNNER.
After a season of hard work, belief, sacrifice and plenty of challenges along the way, Heatherton are 2026 PREMIERS!
And we certainly didn’t do it the easy way.
With a strong wind worth around four goals blowing to one end, we knew managing the conditions was going to be every bit as important as managing the opposition.
Unfortunately, we got jumped early.
The opposition came out breathing fire in the opening quarter and put us under enormous pressure. They had the momentum, they had their tails up, and for a period we were forced to absorb everything they threw at us.
But Grand Finals aren’t won in the first 20 minutes.
We settled.
We started winning our contests, our structure improved and gradually we began playing the footy that had got us here in the first place.
And leading the charge was Cal.
The skipper was enormous.
On the biggest stage of the year, when we needed our leaders to stand up, Cal delivered. His work in the ruck, around the contest and across the ground was outstanding and he was deservedly announced Best on Ground.
A huge performance from the big fella when it mattered most.
Up forward, JC put together a Grand Final performance to remember, finishing with five goals.
Five in a Grand Final.
He presented, competed and took his chances, giving us a genuine target whenever we went forward.
Then there was Beetle.
Two towering goals from outside 50 — and they weren’t cheap ones when the game was done either.
They came at massive moments.
The sort of goals that change momentum, lift 21 teammates and send everyone wearing Heatherton colours absolutely berserk.
But perhaps the most important period of the entire Grand Final came in the third quarter.
We were kicking into that four-goal breeze.
This was the quarter where we had to dig in.
It wasn’t about pretty football. It was about competing, defending, trusting each other and finding a way.
And somehow, we managed to kick two goals against the wind.
They were absolutely enormous.
Every contest mattered. Every spoil mattered. Every tackle mattered. Every metre gained mattered.
Instead of simply surviving the quarter, we made sure the opposition had to keep looking over their shoulder.
From there, the belief was enormous.
We had weathered their early storm. We’d handled the wind. We’d taken their best punches and were still standing.
Then it was time to finish the job.
The boys kept coming.
Contest after contest. Effort after effort.
Our backs stood tall especially Billy Jackson who played forward all year and went back and dominated across half back, our midfield went to work and our forwards kept creating opportunities.
And when that final siren sounded…
HEATHERTON WERE PREMIERS.
What makes this one special isn’t just the talent in this group.
It’s the work.
The blokes who played every week. The blokes who missed games. The blokes who missed selection. The coaches, trainers, volunteers, committee, supporters and families who rode every bump throughout the season.
Everyone played their part.
We spoke all year about what this group was capable of.
But talent doesn’t win Grand Finals on its own.
You still have to turn up.
You still have to compete.
And when the game gets uncomfortable, you have to be prepared to stand there together and fight your way through it.
That’s exactly what this group did.
Cal — Best on Ground.
JC — five goals.
Billy Jackson - Huge Last Half
Backline enormous.
Beetle — two bombs from outside 50 when we desperately needed them.
Twenty-two Heatherton players — PREMIERS.
And one Premiership Cup heading back where it belongs.
HEATHERTON FOOTBALL NETBALL CLUB
2026 DIVISION 3 PREMIERS 🏆
TUNNER PRIDE.
Enjoy this one, boys.
PREMIERS FOREVER, STRONGER, TOGETHER!🖤🤍
