This premiership has put closure to the unfinished business nagging the Bulls since their narrow loss in last season’s Ballarat Cricket Association club firsts final. 

This premiership bridged the Bulls’ old glory days to a new generation with Shane Harwood, Peter Kane and captain Ryan Knowles helping younger Bulls to the A-grade title glory – the club’s first since the 2000 premiership against Northern Roosters, featuring Kane.

And this premiership, rewarded persistence in a rollercoaster season of struggles with injury and form.

The Bulls put on 267 runs for a 149-run lead at the end of the fi rst innings and were still ahead 90 after Napoleons-Sebastopol’s batting collapse to claim a win without the need to bat a second innings.

Only a few weeks ago, Brown Hill was out of the top four and struggling to reach finals.

The Bulls made a late charge, winning the three final games, capped off by an outright win against Darley they needed to qualify.

They trounced Wendouree in the semi-final, just as they did last season.

Then the Bulls played this final in similar fashion to their season – impressive big plays, lethal bowling and limping to the end nursing injury.

The potent Harwood, picking up three wickets on day one, could barely raise his arm with a shoulder injury through days two and three.

Playing-coach Dan Davies, who coached rival Napoleons-Sebastopol to two grand finals, nabbed two quick wickets when play resumed on Saturday but was hobbling into slips and unable to continue bowling four balls into his eighth over.

Fittingly, Bulls quick Matt McMahon took the final wicket to end this showdown in trademark style with the bails of bowled Naps junior Zac Hunter flying.

McMahon hurt Naps with four wickets in the first innings and obliterated the top order with a 4-5 haul on day two. He finished with 7-30 off his 16 overs (five maidens) in the second innings.

Surveying his players celebrating with family and supporters, Brown Hill captain Ryan Knowles said the club committee had put in a lot of hard work to get them this far and to bring players such as Harwood, a retired Australian quick, back into the fold.

“This is a good feeling, especially after last year missing out in such a close final,” Knowles said.

“For such a long time, it didn’t look like we’d even make it this year, with a few injuries.

“East was the game that turned it around for us – we didn’t lose a game for the rest of the season.”

In post-match presentations, Knowles also paid tribute to the achievement of rival Napoleons-Sebastopol, which, he said, many had written off for such a young team so early in the season.

Naps-Sebas, like the Bulls, had to scramble into the finals. Their final-round match against then-reigning premier Mount Clear turned sudden death once the Bulls secured an outright.

Their bowling, like the Bulls’, was their key to beating the Mounties and semi-final opponent Golden Point.

Naps-Sebas all-rounder Liam Rigby earned the EJ Cleary Medal as BCA firsts best and fairest player.

Naps captain Carmen Mapatuna said his team was simply outplayed by the best.

"We came all the way, and we came a long way this season, but we didn't play well to make a good game of the grand final. We all know that," Mapatuna said.

“We’re not that bad. We’re a young team ... we will bounce back."