Tyrepower Manjimup Grand Final Review

Deanmill are the 2025 Tyrepower Manjimup League Premiers, after a 38 point win over Southerners in the season decider at Manjimup Recreation Ground on Saturday. David Fall’s side finished 2nd on the ladder and progressed directly to the Grand Final after a 2nd Semi Final win over Kojonup, while Southerners had to overcome Bridgetown in the 1st Semi Final and Kojonup in the Preliminary Final to earn their spot. 

A large crowd braved the weather, a popular vantage point the bar in the outer side of the ground, seen above keeping a keen eye on Blake Rawson breaking through the middle of the ground. 

With Deanmill claiming their first League success since 2015, how did the Grand Final unfold and what were the key moments?

First Quarter

The first big moment came when the sides ran onto the ground. After featuring in the Colts Grand Final earlier in the day, both Hamish Omodei and Lachlan Hughes were in the final 20 for Southerners. 

In a minor surprise, it was Luca Davis, rather than Under 21 Best & Fairest, Tyson Jacob, who went to the centre square for the first bounce for Souths. Was it the first sign all was not well with Jacob after he left the ground in the Preliminary Final with a finger injury? Davis was joined by Alex Cabassi, Seaton Thompson and Daniel Cabassi, while Deanmill started with Archie Hall, Harley Sparks, Cooper Sparks and Joshua Reeve. 

Hall won the first tap, but the first effective kick of the contest was courtesy of Alex Cabassi after he crumbed off hands and sent Souths to half forward. 

4th Minute: After dominating territory for a couple of minutes, Hall bought a Thompson kick out of the defensive 50 to ground. Joshua DeCampo handballed back to Blake East, who had already had two marks and multiple possessions in the opening minutes. Southerners were out of position defensively from the turnover as East found Harley Sparks. The overlap kick hit an unmarked Cooper Sparks who had run on, who kicked truly from 30 metres to produce the first goal of the game. Deanmill by 8. 

5th Minute: A free kick against Thompson at half forward for Southerners, was followed by a 50 metre penalty. In the wet conditions where territory was crucial, it took Reeve to just outside Deanmill’s 50. His resulting kick bobbled around in the wet, before it found its way into Jared Edgar’s arms, who snapped truly to give Deanmill the near perfect start. The Hawks already seemed to be using the ball carefully around the ground, before launching long inside 50. With the weather not helpful to spearhead, Jordan Strahan, there were several entries that created chaos with the ball skidding around on the deck. Deanmill by 14. 

11th Minute: Alex Cabassi took a superb overhead mark near the 50, before passing off to Callen Sprigg. Sprigg sent the ball towards goal, and Trent Fox received a free kick for high contact before his kick around the corner put Southerners on the board. Souths appeared to have settled in the previous few minutes and put together some good passages of play, resulting in the settler they desperately needed. Deanmill by 8. 

14th Minute: Hall double fisted a boundary throw in inside the Hawks’ 50, before Blake Rawson swooped on the loose ball and sent through a superb goal off a couple of steps. Deanmill by 15. 

20th Minute: Fox had a flying shot at goal from 35 after a good passage of play from Souths. They’d stemmed Deanmill’s goals, but heading into time on, needed a goal to keep the margin manageable early. The ball bounced in front of the goal post and did an off break, when a leg break was needed. Deanmill by 16. 

28th Minute: After another careful passage of play from Southerners the Fox was twice involved with, the ball ended with Fox taking a strong mark in the goal square. Souths had their second and Fox was responsible for all three of their scores. Deanmill by 11.

The late goal had the game evenly poised. Deanmill’s more direct approach to the last kick inside 50 was reaping rewards with 9 scoring shots to 3, while the absence of Strahan from the goal tally was a double edged sword for both teams. Tom Collins had a superb quarter in defence, but 9  shots to 3 and a Deanmill lead without Strahan impacting the scoreboard, left plenty of upside for the Hawks. 

Second Quarter

5th Minute: Strahan had a good look at goal after a superb build up by Deanmill. After his set shot kicking had been a feature all year, especially from 35 metres out directly in front, it was the second uncustomary miss in a matter of minutes and the question had to start being asked – would Deanmill pay for the missed opportunities while they had the run of play, as they had earlier in the day in the Colts? 3.9 was starting to tell a worrying story, even in the tough conditions. Deanmill by 13.

9th Minute: Brock Tempra got on the end of a chain of possession after Deanmill forced the ball forward following a boundary thrown in. Tempra’s kick was under plenty of pressure from 40 out and he snuck it inside the right hand goal post. Deanmill by 20. 

14th Minute: Hamish Omodei provided a superb contest inside forward 50 to bring the ball to ground, before an errant arm caught him high and gave up the free kick. Omodei’s trusty left boot sent through an important goal from 45. Deanmill by 14. 

17th Minute: Ben Cabassi marked near the boundary line on the 50. We’ve seen Cabassi kick impossible goals all season, but there was no miracle here. Southerners needed to bring the margin down, but this unfortunately summed up a day for Cabassi that saw him go goalless for the first time since Round 1. Deanmill by 14. 

18th Minute: A crunching tackle by Strahan was rewarded with a free kick, but for the 3rd time in the quarter his radar was off.  Deanmill by 15. 

19th Minute: Southerners managed consecutive goals for the first time in the contest with a well judged mark from Alex Cabassi, getting on the end of a chain direct from the resulting kick out. Seeing an empty goal square, Cabassi played on quickly and the ball bounced through. The margin was back into single digits and Deanmill’s inaccuracy was looking expensive. Deanmill by 9.

24th Minute: After a Ben Cabassi miss at the other end, Deanmill moved the ball from one end to the other, playing on at all costs and creating overlaps with some hard running. A long kick forward landed in the lap of Kallum East, who dribbled it through from a metre or so out. Deanmill by 14. 

28th Minute: Hamish Omodei received a free kick from almost the same spot as his earlier goal with a superb run down tackle. The kick looked good, but hammered the goal post half way up. Deanmill by 13. 

29th Minute: There has been so much confusion in recent years at all levels of football around hard tackling vs duty of care and concussion. This was a country football Grand Final, in tough conditions, approaching half time with the margin a tick over two goals. For the ‘Yes Hard Tackling is Still A Thing – 101 How To’ go no further than Strahan’s tackle on Seaton Thompson. This was right in front of the LSWFL officials marquee and the tackle was strong, tough and forceful, yet Strahan also did all he could possibly asked to do in football in 2o25 to protect Thompson’s head in the midst of it. If players can consistently find the line Strahan found here, tough footy will always be with us AND we can see a reduction in concussions, which everyone associated with football at all levels knows is a non negotiable. 

The half time siren sounded, with Deanmill leading 5.10.40 to 4.3.27. Southerners would have been ruing the late goal to East after they had a chance at the other end, while Deanmill could have been excused for concern at once again dominating play for long periods and not seeing the full benefit on the scoreboard. Deanmill kicked 8 goals to 4 in the second half of their Round 17 clash, though still fell a point short, and were unstoppable in the second half of the 2nd Semi Final. For Southerners, Jacob looked sore and while he was battling hard and rucking with his non preferred left hand, was unable to exert his usual influence, while the impact of Hughes and Omodei having played earlier in the day in such taxing conditions was still an unknown.