Gallery | Purple haze for Violet Town after under-15 Kyabram District League grand final classic

Kicking off Saturday’s Kyabram District League football grand finals at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve was the under-15s decider between minor premiers Violet Town and Dookie United.

The Towners had a dominant 2024 home-and-away season, only losing one match, which was in round 15, to Dookie by five points.

However, Violet Town soon tasted defeat, again at the hands of Dookie, during the two sides’ semi-final clash, with United winning by two points in a thriller.

The stage was set for these two talented sides on Saturday morning, and neither disappointed.

The game started in a bit of an arm wrestle before Towners’ Koby Ross kicked a beautiful set shot goal - 50th of the season - to draw first blood.

In the second quarter, after a goal to Dookie’s Nate Marshall, Violet Town led 9-8.

Towners midfielder Billy Dyer then came streaming out of the following centre bounce and delivered a pinpoint pass to Ross.

The young key forward kicked truly and gave the large contingent of Towners supporters a roaring celebration that star Carlton forward Charlie Curnow would have been proud of.

In the third term, Violet Town looked like it broke Dookie’s shackles as the Towners raced out to an 18-point point lead.

Star Towners forward Ryder Robertson - 104 goals for the season - kicked two goals for the term, including a stunning gather and snap over his shoulder.

However, a mix of a sling tackle, shove and a wrestle led to a yellow card for a Towner and a goal for United on the eve of three-quarter time.

In the fourth quarter, Dookie struck first to cut the margin to six points (27-33).

A stalemate followed, and with the Towners leading by seven points (28-35) with 40 seconds remaining, it seemed the result was settled.

This is where the football gods stepped in and decided they wanted to see more of this under-15s grand final classic.

A long bomb into Dookie’s forward 50 led to a point before Violet Town looked to take the ball out of defence.

This led to a turnover and a great snapping Dookie goal, which tied the scores with seven seconds remaining.

After the “final” siren blew, two five-minute halves of extra time were played out.

Both sides fought hard, but Violet Town’s Nate Nicholas delivered the killer blow with a great running goal.

The Towners won the grand final by seven points, 6.7 (43) to 5.6 (36).

Violet Town coach Tim Ross said the match was a fantastic example of junior football.

“We played Dookie five times this year and the last three have been decided by around a goal,” Ross said.

“It was so enjoyable to watch the kids put everything into it and get a good result for us.”

Violet Town’s Angus Richardson starred in his ruck role and was awarded best-on-ground honours.

Ross said he told his boys to play their usual game during the two halves of extra time.

“I’ve never done anything like that (extra time),” he said.

“We just had to do everything we had been doing (throughout the game).

“We had to get it forward - dirty ball, we called it.

“Get it forward and kick goals and that was what we did.”