Cover Photo: Petesib’s Photography

By Tallon Smith

The Mudgee Dragons have reversed last year’s heartbreaking defeat to Dubbo CYMS to score a 46-16 win over the Parkes Spacemen in the Grand Final at Mudgee’s Glen Willow Sporting Complex on Sunday afternoon.

Ethan Pegus and Camden Sutton each scored doubles for the Mudgee side as they raced in 10 tries to Parkes’ three to claim the title as the Central West’s best football side for the season.

Mudgee Dragons Captain-Coach Clay Priest said that it was a great feeling to win the decider after the heartbreak of finishing as runners-up last season.

“Last year it wasn’t to be for us, [but it] left a bit of fire in their belly I think for the blokes that were there last year,” he said.

“It was really nice to come out on top, they definitely made amends for it this year.”

Despite the added pressure of playing a Grand Final at home, Priest said that the Dragons stuck to their simple and familiar game plan on the day, which saw them to victory.

“We had a game plan of what we wanted to do and it wasn’t anything different to how we’ve been playing throughout the season,” he said. 

“We just stuck to our guns and it was just one of them games, the rub of the green was definitely in our favour, and no disrespect to Parkes, but we just sort of had them beat everywhere all over the paddock.”

As for the Western Premiership, which is better known by the name of its First Grade competition in the Peter McDonald Premiership, Priest said it has “absolutely” been a positive change which has breathed new life into the game in the region.

“I suppose obviously there were a lot of sides in the Group 10 competition as it was that were sort of fading away, as [were] some sides in the Group 11 competition also,” he said. 

“So I think it was just something that they wanted to do to try and try and create some [more competition]. 

“It caused a little bit of hostility in some clubs, some clubs didn’t want it to happen, but I think it’s good.”

The win is Mudgee’s first Western Premiership First Grade title, and their ninth First Grade title overall counting their eight triumphs in Group 10.

The previous two titles in the competition’s short existence were won by Forbes in 2022 and Dubbo CYMS last season.

Meanwhile, in the lower grades on Sunday, Dubbo CYMS defeated Mudgee 18-10 to win the Reserve Grade title, Dubbo Macquarie won the League Tag decider 18-6 over Bathurst St Pats, and the Orange Hawks won the Tom Nelson Under 18s Premiership with a 22-8 victory over Dubbo CYMS.