The roar from the stands, a constant hum of excitement and anticipation, echoed across the Gungahlin Enclosed Oval.
On the field, the Yass Magpies Reserve Grade side and the Tuggeranong Bushrangers were locked in a gritty, mud-caked struggle for a spot in the Grand Final. The prize was a chance at glory; the challenge was to overcome the errors that had plagued both teams all season.
The match began with a nervous energy, a constant hum of dropped balls and shrill whistles. The Magpies, known for their attacking flair, seemed to be shackled by the pressure. A misplaced pass here, a fumbled catch there, and the momentum they craved remained elusive.
Tuggeranong, meanwhile, capitalised on its opponents’ unease. A swift, well-executed play saw their forward, Sam Norris, crash over the line, the ball held triumphantly aloft. The cheers from the Bushrangers’ supporters and a groan of frustration from the Yass faithful filled the air. The conversion was successful, making the score 6-0. For a long time, that’s where it stayed.
The first half, as observed by the club’s coaching director, Anthony Vitler, was undeniably scrappy. From his vantage point, he noted a stream of dropped balls and a frustrating number of penalties from his Magpies. It was a war of attrition, a battle fought in the trenches of the forward pack.
No doubt a similar line-up will face Gungahlin this week.
Vitler, the incoming first-grade coach for 2026, saw a team losing its composure. He recognised the cause of their struggles in their poor discipline—silly shoves after the whistle and a general lack of focus on the fundamentals.
At halftime, the message to the team was clear: refocus and execute. They needed to return to their basic game plan, cutting out the mistakes and maintaining their composure. The coaching staff emphasised that by simply completing their sets and avoiding the unforced penalties, they could turn the game in their favour. It was a strategy that had worked the previous week and was now their best chance. The hope was that their youth and superior fitness would allow them to wear down the opposition.
The second half was a different story entirely. The Magpies returned to the field as a more disciplined, determined side. The passes were cleaner, the tackles more precise, and the penalties vanished. It was a testament to their fitness and a relentless desire to grind their opponents down. They chipped away at the Bushrangers’ defence, probing for weaknesses. The breakthrough came from an unlikely source, a moment of pure individual brilliance. Andrew Swaffield, a player known more for his defensive work, found himself in space and powered his way over the try line. The stands erupted. The Magpies had finally broken through. The score was now 6-4. The conversion attempt from Dave Barrie went wide, but the feeling of momentum had firmly shifted.
The Magpies continued to press their advantage. The Bushrangers, tiring and on the back foot, struggled to hold the line. It wasn’t long before Yass struck again. This time, it was the veteran Timmy McPhillips, a stalwart of the team, who used his experience to weave through the defense and touch down. Barrie’s boot was called upon again, and this time, he made no mistake. The ball soared between the posts, and the Magpies took the lead for the first time, 10-6.
The final nail in the coffin came from Andrew Smith, who capped off a brilliant second half for the Magpies with a try that sealed the deal. Barrie, after an otherwise inconsistent day with the boot, was unable to convert the final try, but it didn’t matter. The scoreboard told the story: Yass Magpies (14) had defeated the Tuggeranong Bushrangers (6). The Magpies were heading to the Grand Final, their first in 14 years.
The victory meant more than just a place in the final. For the club, it was a moment of hope, a sign that after years of struggle, success was within their grasp. They would face the formidable Gungahlin team, a side that had dominated the competition and had only lost one game all year—to Tuggeranong, of all teams. Vitler, ever the realist, acknowledged the challenge ahead. He knew Gungahlin had been the standard in reserve grade for a long time, having reached the grand final three of the last four years and winning at least two of them. But he also knew they were beatable.
He believed that if his team could stay in the game and avoid silly mistakes, the opportunity for victory would eventually present itself. It was an old cliché, but one he believed in.
Looking ahead to the Grand Final and the following season, Vitler’s vision became clear. He spoke of the rebuilding patch the club had been in for years, consistently finishing at or near the bottom of the ladder. He was now committed to leading the club, having been an assistant coach for many years but never taking on the top job. He felt that if he didn’t do it now, he would always regret it. He was excited by the challenge, especially with a promising group of young players coming through the ranks.
His plans for 2026 were ambitious. He wanted to focus on improving the team’s fitness, a point of weakness he had noticed at the start of the previous year. He also wanted to build a strong club culture, one where all teams—from the KFS girls and league tag girls to the 18s and Reggies—trained together, fostering a sense of inclusivity. His focus was on developing the local talent, a long-term strategy for success.
With a core group from the current team and the addition of a few new players, he hoped to finally get the club off the bottom of the ladder and start winning more games. The goal was to put Yass back on the map and keep the town interested in their footy club.
The victory over Tuggeranong wasn’t just a win; it was the second-to-last step in a long journey. It was a sign of things to come for next year, a testament to what a little discipline and a lot of heart could achieve. The Magpies were back. The question now is, will their season end in ecstasy or in despair?
– Tully Potts
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