Unfortunately it left with an all-too-familiar heartbreak on Wednesday. 

St Bernard’s College prevailed 6.9 (45)– 4.5 (29) in a low-scoring affair due to the wet and windy conditions.

St Bernard’s had the better of the play for much of the day, but kicked poorly in front of goal. St Patrick’s College took a one-point lead into three-quarter-time, but St Bernard’s delivered a stellar final term to reign supreme.

A disappointed coach Howard Clark said the 16-point loss was far from the performance it had hoped for. He felt it did not adjust to the conditions well and for whatever reason did not play to its usual level in what was an “uncharacteristic” display.

“We were hesitant, we were second to the ball, they controlled it in the air, we fumbled – it was really uncharacteristic,” Clark said.

“It’s really disappointing because I know they didn’t play to the level that they would’ve liked to.

“Whether it was the occasion, I don’t know...we were certainly very reactionary.”

Despite not being at its best, St Pat’s were still in the contest at three-quarter-time – in fact one-point adrift of St Bernard’s. The coaching staff looked to change things up, both in style and putting some bigger bodies around the ball, but St Pat’s never truly looked like it had full control of the match.

The burning desire to redeem that St Patrick’s College entered its 2017 campaign with will disappointingly remain until next year. But as Clark rightly pointed out, opportunities to redeem were not guaranteed.

“We were closer enough (at three-quarter-time) if we played well enough.

“This will burn deep within a lot of these boys...their mantra for the year was to atone last year, they’ll be disappointed. 

“Football’s a great life a teacher and the boys certainly learned a lot of life lessons out of this.

“There’s no guarantees… some are fortunate enough to have two (chances to win the HSS), but most only get one and you’ve got to take these opportunities when they present.”

St Patrick’s College were not tested en route to the Herald Sun Shield grand final. It dominated its Ballarat Associated School competition and then thumped Essendon and Keilor College by 93 points in the semi-final.

While not using it as an excuse, Clark felt its lack of genuine competition and close-match experience did hurt.

“There’s no doubt we need more competition, so that on days like this you can go back to past glories and past learnings for when you get confronted.”

Tom Scott won the medal for St Pat’s best player.