Tigers win wheelchair league flag
Richmond have won their second Victorian Wheelchair Football League senior premiership overcoming a gallant Essendon team by 30 points in front of a packed house at MSAC Arena on Sunday 18 September.
The Tigers fed off the 800-plus crowd to put on a show in front of the pumped-up Tiger army, rolling to a 17.8 (110) to 12.8 (80) victory.
It was again Richmond’s superstar forward duo of Chris Henderson (eight goals) and Vincent Naidu (nine goals) who led the way. Henderson was at his powerful best taking numerous trademark contested marks while Naidu whipped the crowd into a frenzy with his electrifying pace and chair skills.
Richmond’s Teisha Shadwell took home the best-on-ground medal for her dominant display through the middle of the ground, consistently giving her team first use of the ball all day. Richmond premiership player and best and fairest winner Jayden Short presented Teisha with her award along two complimentary grand final tickets courtesy of TAC.
For Essendon, Sam Maraldo was terrific putting through seven majors all in the second half whilst skipper Louis Rowe battled hard to keep his team in the game all day.
2022 Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League Senior Grand Final
Richmond 17.8 110 defeated Essendon 12.8 80
Goals: Richmond: Naidu 9, Henderson 8
Essendon: Maraldo 7, Perito 3, Logan 2
Robert Rose Medallist: Teisha Shadwell (Richmond)
2022 Robert Rose Foundation Victorian Wheelchair Football League Development Grand Final
Richmond 12.4 76 defeated Essendon 9.4 58
Goals: Richmond: Chris Kotsanas 7, Bryant Parsons 3
Essendon: Scott Van Gemert 4,
Robert Rose Medallist: Angelo Mavroudis (Richmond)
Richmond’s development side capped an undefeated season taking home the premiership in the league's inaugural season. In a hard-fought grand final, the Tigers kept a fast finishing Bombers outfit at bay, eventually running out 18 point victors, 12.4 (76) to 9.4 (58)
Angelo Mavroudis was everywhere across half back taking multiple intercept marks, whilst skipper Freya Munzel provided great support negating multiple Essendon forward entries. Up the other end, Chris Kotsanas led the way putting through seven majors.
Essendon put up a spirited second half comeback, led by Scott Van Gemert, who put through four majors to get the Bombers within touching distance with just minutes to go.
Junior Wheelchair Match
We saw the Victorian Wheelchair Football League's next generation of players kick off grand final day with the competition's first ever junior wheelchair match.
The match ended up being an absolute thriller with ‘Hendo’s Heroes’ taking down ‘Wills Warriors’ 5.0 (30) to 4.5 (29). The companionship showed between our league's newest players was truly one of the highlights of the day.
