Jack Luhrs' Spotlight on 'Rules' 
Grand Final Edition

IN the past decade, I can recall what surely rate memorable grand finals in the South West League.
Last Sunday was one of them when Coolamon won out in an incredible battle of superiority against Turvey Park, the other was in 1964 when Griffith under the captaincy of former Richmond star Peter Morris was beaten by Ganmain with the last kick of the match.
But its last Sunday's game that rates comment at the moment. The pace was on from the start on a day more suitable for sunbathing than football and the tempo held right up to the closing siren.
The fact that victory tottered in the balance throughout was only part of the deal.
The brilliance of many stars in the game, the continual displays of football courage, the willingness of both sides to ignore defeat and the torrid tension when players went beyond the rules, had the big crowd locked in complete approval of all the best aspects of Australian football.
Sure, there were incidents - Ken Hayes and Ian Wright were central figures in the daddy of them all but yet there have been many more grand finals where this aspect has been far more prevalent.
Coolamon won in doing so were the crowd favourites in most minds, yet the Bulldogs lost nothing in defeat for their contribution in turning the match into a brilliant, bruising and completely absorbing crowd pleaser.
To single out individual players would rob the game of some of its due praise but equally unfair would be to overlook the magnificent influence exerted by Coolamon skipper Jim Hayes.
It is somewhat unique with Hayes leading his side to a premiership in the same season his brother Allan steered North Wagga into their grand final win over Henty in the Farrer League a week earlier.
For Turvey Park, they are beginning to develop a situation similar to one Griffith have experience over the years. 
The Bulldogs have now lost the 1959, flag, 1970 and 1973 Pennants, all at the hands of Coolamon close to the style Ganmain knocked the Swans out of the 1964, 1965 and 1969 Grand Finals. 
And amongst all of these great games, last Sunday's win stands high and will be written into the history of the League as one of the finest of them all.

I can think of no comment more apt than one used by Griffith second 18 coach Bob Spears when addressing his players prior to taking the field in last Sundays Reserve Grade grand final.
Spears did not mix words when he said. "The best that Second 18 can expect is a lot of back slapping if you win. 
The players did win and in doing so the laurels and praise flowed accordingly.
Spears was not a team member on the day because of a six-week suspension handed down from the final competition round against Narrandera but some of this disappointment was eroded when he proudly completed a lap of honour with his jubilant players after the game.
Second 18 coaches receive no payment and Spears has never looked for any. His side stood out through the year as the team to beat and it's to his credit his side responded to last week's challenge from Leeton in such a manner their premiership win was justified and seldom in doubt. 
And can only be the case in a grand final win, all players played there roll in a team game where only team football can achieve success.
It's true, some players captured more of the limelight, the two Agresta brothers, Tony and Roy were some of these, Terry Hughes, Bill Biron and Ivan Nancarrow were others - Ian Hamilton, John Schmetzer, Glenn Luhrs and Warwick Collis were also in the group but at no time is it intended to imply, these players alone were responsible wholly and solely. 
And now with the 1973 football year over, the Griffith players and some of the officials, will undertake their end of season trip away next weekend.
A party of forty including first, second and third 18 players will leave by bus from the Ex-Servicemen's Club on Friday.

The trip includes three nights' accommodation, and the group will return to Griffith on Monday. 
Senior player Ian Wade has been responsible for the bulk of the organisation and as such Wade has shown his responsibility to the club spirit of the Swans and his willingness to do more for the club then simply play his football game each Sunday.

(The Area News - Wednesday, October 3, 1973).