Coorow-Latham back on top with grand final win over Dongara in North Midlands Football League decider

Coorow-Latham have swooped in to claim the North Midlands Football League flag following their grand final win over Dongara.

Coorow are back on top of the league, redeeming their shortcomings in last year’s finals with a 12.15 (87) to 10.15 (75) win over Dongara on Saturday in Carnamah.

The Magpies got off to a flyer, with a quick inside 50 finding the hands of Matthew Burley who wasted no time snapping the opening goal.

Xsavera Riley won the following tap for the Magpies, finding Tane Morgan outside who was given a free off a high tackle.

They made quick work of it and Nick Kommer delivered a second goal for Coorow in as little as two minutes.

Dongara was able to slow the fast-paced offense down and spread the game out, but late scoring shots extended the Magpies’ lead.

Callan Hill got the Eagles on the board before the break, but Coorow still came out of the opening quarter with a commanding 23-point lead.

The second term played much of the same tune, with Rhai-Arn Cox getting an early look for Coorow.

River Sandells got the first of four goals for Dongara in the second term, while Coorow-Latham responded with just two of their own.

The Magpies held on to take a 6.8 (44) to 5.6 (36) lead into the main break, with the Eagles hot on the chase.

Dongara looked to be on the charge coming out in the third, with Paul Kappeler getting a wide-open look in front of the big sticks and slotting a major and cutting the margin to just two points.

Unfortunately for the Eagles, it would be the last goal they would see that quarter as the Magpies turned the tables in their favour.

Laurie Bothe and Isaiah Mogridge landed back-to-back goals and Dongara had little answer for what Coorow had on offense.

Despite a fourth quarter surge from the Eagles, Coorow sealed the 12-point victory.

Following his dominant performance in the ruck, Magpies’ big man Riley was named best on ground and awarded the 2024 Tunbridge Medal.

The Magpies claimed their ninth premiership in club history and their third in the past four years, following their flag wins in 2021 and 2022.

The Eagles failed to complete the worst-to-first turnaround, reaching the grand final following their wooden spoon finish last season.

It wasn’t all bad news for the Dongara Football Club, with their young guns claiming the junior premiership again.

The Dongara juniors took down Three Springs juniors in the decider 11.11 (77) to 5.5 (35), defending their flag from last year.