GAWLER Central has claimed its first Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association A-grade premiership since 2014 – its fourth since the BL&G’s inception in 1987 – after it conquered local rival South Gawler 20.14 (134) to 11.10 (76) to cap off a perfect season.

In front of nearly 2000 fans at Freeling Oval, Gawler Central’s Nick Hooker grabbed the game’s first goal after pouncing on a loose ball 35-out straight in front and flushing it over the goal umpire’s hat.

After a free kick at each end provided the next two goals, now two-time Schluter medallist Charlie Molyneux made the most of a forward-50 stoppage with a clean pick-up and left foot snap to give the Tigers a multiple-goal lead in which they never surrendered.

The first half was the Tom Phelps show as he led up and down the ground seemingly taking marks in every position, while also demonstrating excellent foot skills around the ground and in front of goal, kicking one himself and setting up many more.

Lion Dean Cutting could hold his head up high at halftime after a number of big pack marks and piercing left-foot balls through the middle of the ground which his teammates unfortunately failed to capitalise on.

At halftime the Tigers led 10.6 (66) to 3.2 (20) and were clearly the more physically imposing side, with their manic pressure, especially in the midfield, a sight to behold.

Jackson Press tried to put South Gawler on his back in the third term as he grabbed two quick goals in a row, but just as he was at his hottest, a hard shot to the face forced him off through the blood-rule.

Things could have been much more interesting if the Lions kicked straighter than the 3.7 they put on the scoreboard in the quarter, but Gawler Central just had all the answers, kicking six goals itself during a period in which it wasn’t playing its best footy.

The last quarter was a celebration for the Tigers as Sean Baker feasted inside the contest, but it was Sean Brading who stole the show late.

With five minutes remaining in the game, Brading bombed in a ridiculous goal from beyond 50, sprinting towards the boundary line on his weaker left boot. Within minutes Brading then received a free kick close to 65 metres out on the opposite boundary line to his previous goal, and he took the opportunity to unload one of the cleanest torpedos you will ever have the privilege of seeing, travelling close to 70 and hitting the netting on the full.

To South Gawler’s credit, as with the first meeting between the sides, there was not an ounce of quit despite the early margin.

Sean Baker was named best-on-ground, while teammates Nick Hooker, Shane Moss and Sean Brading all kicked four goals each.

Tigers coach Matt Whelan said this win, as well as the reserves premiership, was a perfect reward for the amount of work the club has put in.

“The way I look at it, it’s reward for effort,” he said.

“From the committee down, the club’s done a huge job in getting us to a position where we can succeed, and giving us the opportunity to have everything we need as footballers.

“We do a lot of work off the field and outside of game-days, so for it to pay off this way makes it all worth it.”

Whelan said while the club will likely lose the services of Shane Moss – who is contracted as player-coach at Balaklava – he feels there is a good chance they can hold onto super recruit Tom Phelps.

“I’d say we’re in pole position to keep ‘Phelpsy’ – it was his first premiership which he was happy about, but he just fit in perfectly at the club from day one and we’re lucky to have him,” he said.

“There might be some change to some of the older guys maybe, but everyone is indicating they’re keen to go again next year, and if we can keep this group together I think this is just the start… I think we’ve got a couple more years of success in front of us.”