SWDFL GRAND FINAL REPORT 
HOPPERS BREAKS PREMIERSHIP DROUGHT

THE Coolamon Grasshoppers broke an 11-year drought when they scored an easy win over Turvey Park in the SWDFL grand final. 
With Coolamon well on top for most of the day the game generally lacked the determination and tension usually associated with finals and although there was an occasional burst of brilliant football the game, as a whole must have been disappointing to the big crowd which paid $3108 in gate money.
So superior was the team game of the Hoppers that it was hard to find a bad player.
There were, however, stars galore and there was a justification for naming six or eight players as the team's best.
On the other hand, Turvey Park was always struggling and in a most disappointing performance it had few good players.
Coach Graham Ion and veteran Johnny Hawke tried hard to rally the Bulldogs but far too many players were playing too badly for there to be any worthwhile revival.
A chilly cross breeze favoured the southern goal and against this breeze, in the first quarter, Coolamon laid the foundation for its win by outscoring Turvey Park by three goals.
The Greens followed this with a brilliant second term and with a lead of 65 points they virtually had the premiership in their grasp at half time.
Umpire Peter Sheales exemplary exhibition indicated why he is rated as one of the top V.F.L. officials.
Turvey Park was first to attack when the game started, and John McNamara showed great dash to open their scoring with a goal. Coolamon however, were not long in settling down and scored three singles before Peter Slattery brought up their first goal.
In turn Turvey Park advanced and John Shearer kept them in front with a goal which was followed by two singles.
This was the last time the Bulldogs were in front.
Coolamon with its rucks, half-backs and half-forwards functioning well began to get on top.
In a strong rally, goals come from Jim Hayes, Phillip Curtis and Slattery (2) to give the Greens a handy 18-point lead at quarter time.
The Hoppers practically assured victory with a brilliant second quarter.
A goal from a sharp angle by Hayes was followed by one for Turvey from McNamara but from then on it was all Coolamon.
John Kew and Graham Ion were playing wide of one another but, with Coolamon constantly in attack, Ion was forced into a defensive role, and his team missed his usual brilliant attacking football. 
With fast backing up Coolamon had its game flowing smoothly and goals from Charlie Moses (3), Slattery (2), Hayes and Curtis saw it race away to a big lead. Half time scores: Coolamon 13.10 (88), Turvey Park 3-5 (23)
Turvy Park played its best football in the third quarter but never seriously challenged Coolamon's grip on the game.
For the first half of the term Turvey Park, exploiting the short kicking game, paced it with Coolamon, each adding two goals.
Midway through the session, however, someone decided to use long kicks with the breeze and with Shearer moving and marking well and a danger at the spearhead they rammed on goals from Shearer (2), Robbie Nolan, Michael Hill and Doug Campbell.
Coolamon could only improve its tally by three singles and a goal by Gerald Bradley to lead by 43 points at the last crossover.
Allan Hayes, who had taken much of the edge off Turvey Park's attack by quietening Barry Conway for three quarters broke loose and turned on some brilliant defence with strong marks and long clearances.

EARLY GAMES

Narrandera fared badly in the early games, losing to Ardlethan and Turvey Park in the seconds. The Third 18 game was full of interest with the bigger and heavier Ardlethan team wearing downing Narrandera to win by 14-points. The second 18 was also closely contested and featured plenty of hard rugged play.  (The Riverina Daily News - Monday, September 21, 1970).