The Eagles entered the clash as underdogs, but felt on their day that they could match it with the minor premier.

Alfredton made a solid start to the day, scoring its sole run in the first innings, but it could not trouble the scorers from there on after.

Sunshine producing consistently strong tallies from its innings’ to claim a runaway victory.

Captain-coach Nathan Yates said while it was clearly disappointing to lose a grand final, the opposition was a class above.

“They out hit us, they out fielded us, we knew going into the game we had to match it with them in that area,” Yates said.

“They were very smart in the way they played.

“Our guys were outclassed on the teamsheet and it showed on the field.”

Yates added that the overall season was a positive. Having hoped to make the top four at the start of the year, the Eagles exceeded that making the top two and winning through to the grand final.

“For the season, we probably over-achieved. Where we were going to be compared to where we ended up, on that side of things it was a positive note for the club.

“You don’t like to lose in a grand final, but when you look back at it now, we probably overachieved even making it.”

Off the back of the impressive season, Yates said Alfredton would definitely look to nominate a higher grade next season.

The club will welcome back a number of players to the side next year, who took the season off for an array of reasons, and Yates did not expect to lose anyone from the grand final team.

A position in the A reserve grade a likely target.

“We’ll be looking to push-up to a higher grade next year. When you put half a dozen or so blokes back into the mix, we’ll definitely be able to go up.”