Paul McMahon admits he was salivating at the prospects of playing on the wide-open spaces and magnificent surface at the Alfredton Recreation Reserve.
Known for his prowess as a hard-running and skillful forward, the conditions that presented for Saturday’s decider were always going to suit the Tigers star.
And he cashed in.
In a day to remember, McMahon kicked six goals to be named as the grand final’s best player.
McMahon started the game a little slowly, but after kicking his first goal on the quarter-time siren, his class began to shine.
He started to impact the game heavily in the second term – kicking another major – before booting two in both the third and fourth quarters.
After the final siren on Saturday afternoon, McMahon cast his mind back to the grand final win over Gordon in 2015 when he played with a badly injured quadriceps and had little impact on the match.
“I probably shouldn’t have played to be honest, but I put my hand up and lucky we won because I would have felt pretty bad dishing out what I did,” he said.
“So Saturday, I was really keen… when I saw the sun come out, I was licking my lips to play a big one and it panned out that way.”
The best on ground medal is McMahon’s second in a grand final, matching the one he won for an eight-goal haul in Lake Wendouree’s breakthrough Ballarat league flag in 2010.
Saturday’s senior premiership is McMahon’s fifth as a player, which includes two he won with the North Ballarat Roosters in the VFL.
