Prestigious Preston snag fourth flag

Jake Morris

Another year, another banner for George Wakim, Sean Calcedo and the Preston Bullants. The boys from W.R. Ruthven Reserve secured an incredible fourth Premiership in seven seasons to steamroll through the Divisions and enter Premier C for the first time in their short VAFA history.

Leading from the front once again was the captain, the back-to-back LS Pepper Medallist for Division 1, Sean Calcedo. Named the Best on Ground medallist for the day, Calcedo led his side to a 10-point win over UHS-VU at Box Hill City Oval.

Despite conceding the first major of the afternoon to Nick Wallace, the Bullants controlled the play, tempo and scoreboard for most of the game, pushing the margin out to a game-high 34-point advantage early in the third term.

When Gerard Sutton put through a miraculous goal early in the final term to push the margin back out to 25 points, many would have been thinking it was all but over, but the Vultures wouldn’t lie down though, and that fight and ability to never roll over and die in contests that has willed them to three grand finals in a row came through in the second half.

Booting 5.8 to 3.3 in the final two quarters, the Vultures had their opportunities to create some havoc, but wayward kicking doomed Uni High and sent all that hard work and pressure by the wayside.

Liam Sutton kicked three for the Premiers while Tom Hill booted two, including the nail in the coffin midway through the final term. Along with captain Sean Calcedo who stole the show, Tom Hill, Liam Sutton and Gerard Sutton received the votes in the win.

A disappointing afternoon for UHS-VU, who no doubt thought they were in with a real short to snatch an improbable victory, but the achievement of earning promotion through the Division competitions and return to a Premier grade for the first time since 1977 is no small feat, and they should be incredibly proud of their accomplishments top to bottom.

Nick Wallace led his side with two majors while Isaac Brambley and Ben Anderson were named UHS-VU’s best.

Both Preston and UHS-VU will now join the Premier C competition for 2020, replacing Old Camberwell Grammarians and PEGS Football Club who will join Division 1 next season. Joining the likes of Peninsula, Kew, Oakleigh and Therry Penola to name a few, the Division 1 competition is set to be just as exciting, just as tight and just as competitive as it was this year.

Congratulations Preston on a memorable 2019 campaign and good luck to both sides next year in Premier C.