SEAFORD made it three premierships in three years on Sunday at Frankston Park when it beat Edithvale-Aspendale by almost 10 goals in the MPNFL Peninsula Division grand final.
The Tigers took control of the game in the opening term and while the Eagles were gallant in the second quarter, they could not match the premier's strength, talent and skill for the entire journey.
The Tigers booted seven goals to three in the first half and 14 to nine in the second stanza, winning 21.18 (144) to 12.15 (87).
Edithvale went into the game without Rhett Moor, its ever-reliable full-back all season, after he injured his knee at training in the lead-up.
His teammate and vice-captain Pat Poore was serving the final week of a three-week suspension.
In the context of the game, Moor and Poore were the two players the Eagles could least afford to lose for the grand final against Seaford.
The Tigers' strength is their power forwards and ruck dominance, two areas where they shone again on Sunday.
However, it was the midfield dominance and the luxury of multiple rotations that was the difference between the sides.
Pat Cadd kicked the first goal of the game with a right-foot snap from the boundary towards the Kars Street end. Joe Hallal kicked the next one after dodging and weaving through opponents.
Hallal and Cadd finished with five goals each for the afternoon.
The Eagles went with Trent Downie on Michael Kraska, who finished with three goals and 95 for the season, while Jeremy Heys got the job on dual EV Shade medallist Chris Irving.
Heys did a pretty good job on Irving early, but it didn't stop the best player in the competition from exerting enormous influence and being one of the best players on the ground.
Irving took the mark of the day in the second quarter and then booted the goal of the day in the third quarter with a right-foot snap, hard against the boundary line.
Mark Fitcher was clearly the Eagles' most productive forward, booting five goals in his last game before retirement, and Brad Tagg proved he is going to be a gun player for a long time, kicking three to also be among his side's best.
Edithvale controlled general play in the second quarter, dominated forward entries, was laying tackles three to one and looked quicker, but could manage only 2.6 for the term, while Seaford seemed to make light work of converting when it went forward, kicking 3.1 from limited opportunities in the quarter.
It was enough to break the back of the Eagles. They had fired their best shot and still couldn't get close on the scoreboard.
At three-quarter time the margin was nine goals, Josh Stokes, Chris Fortnam and Luke Smith dominating through the middle of the ground and half-back flanker Kane Taylor continuing his love affair with Frankston Park.
Taylor always dominates on this ground and Sunday's grand final was no exception.
You had to take your hat off to Edithvale and the character of the group. They continued to run, tackle, harass and generally work hard until the final siren.
They scored the first two goals of the last quarter through Fitcher and managed six for the quarter. Unfortunately for Edi-Asp, the Tigers matched them with six of their own.
Timmy Mannix was superb, as was his brother Steve, and Nick Connellan was sensational, managing the ruck on his own all day and picking up plenty of ball around the ground.
The Eagles won 11 of its previous 12 games to get to the big day. They were the best opponent Seaford could have faced.
It proved to be a great day for Seaford Football Club, winning the reserves against Frankston YCW 8.8 (56) to 5.11 (41). Mornington beat YCW in the under-18s, kicking away to win 17.6 (108) to 13.8 (86).
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