GSFL 2024: Albany’s second consecutive flag just as good as maiden premiership, coach Jamie Ramm says

Albany were full of grit and determination as they outlasted a brave Royals to lift back-to-back Great Southern Football League premierships, with coach Jamie Ramm saying this one was just as rewarding. With their “backs against the wall,” the Sharks were trailing the Lions by eight points in time-on of the third quarter before storming to successive flags by booting the last four goals of the game. The 10.15 (74) to 8.5 (53) win at Retravision Stadium on Saturday against their co-tenants sparked rapturous celebrations among the club’s players, coaches and spectators. Among the hysteria of post-match celebrations, Ramm believed this gutsy triumph was comparable to their historic maiden premiership from last year. “We did have our backs against the wall at one stage there,” he said. “We were kicking to the favourable end and then all of a sudden we hadn’t scored a goal and then (the Lions) hit the front. “So with the way they came back. . . I never thought it would be (comparable) but the way it went, it probably is.” The now dual premiership coach credited his side’s resilience and said they just had to “keep grinding” against their arch-rivals. “We were in for one hell of a fight and we were going to have to dig as deep as we can,” Ramm said “(The Lions) were brave and they did a hell of a job, so it was a real grind, but these guys are pretty resilient. “I also told them they’ve worked as hard as anyone, I believe they’re fitter than any side and we did have the week off, so we weren’t as banged up as what Royals obviously were.” Ramm said when the game was there to be won, his line-breaking outside runners were the difference. He also added that it took all 22 of his vital role-players to clinch the premiership. “I thought also the young, quicker ones were good too, like Kaleb (Germian) and Brock (Anning), and when we got a bit of run on the outside, that’s sort of where we got our goals from,” he said. “I just think it was a real team effort in the end and the back six were very good all day and got better as the game went on. “They are a very good team, they all do a job and they all play their part.” Gun swingman Bailey Taylor was shifted from centre half-back to the ruck once Lions ruckman Stephen Beal was sidelined with a concussion in the third quarter, meaning youngster Aiden Clark was tasked with manning Lions spearhead Hamish McMorran — a move that proved pivotal in their momentum shift. “We had to do something because we weren’t winning,” Ramm said. “You’ve got to be defensive, but you also have to attack to win, so as good as (Taylor) was back and doing a good job on (McMorran), we weren’t getting as much out of him as we wanted.” “At times, I do put a lot of faith in the kids but I wanted to get Bailey (Taylor) into the ruck and I’ve been waiting all year to do it. “But to do that, I had to have Aiden (Clark) go back on to (McMorran), which is a big ask but I was pretty confident in him because I know what sort of tall defender he can be.”