Panthers hold off gallant Kalgoorlie in hard-fought GFL grand final showdown

Cigars have for generations symbolised joyous celebrations and so it was for Railways coach Rhett Pettit on Saturday when he enjoyed a quiet, contented puff away from the raucous celebrations going on inside the rooms after his squad held off a gallant Kalgoorlie by 28 points, 8.15 (63) to 5.5 (35), in the Goldfields Football League grand final.

The result delivered Railways a second flag in three years and stamped Pettit as a dual premiership coach — just five years after he launched his senior coaching career with a last-place finish.

Those initial struggles, however, were banished to the past following a third straight grand final appearance and a dominant 2024 season when the squad lost one game.

But the weight of expectation in the decider against the competition’s fourth-placed team, who they were expected to beat easily, came with significant challenges.

Kalgoorlie were unfazed as underdogs, and brought to the clash at Sir Richard Moore Sports Centre a dogged, nothing-to-lose approach that had them still in the game early in the last quarter.

As a spectacle, it wasn’t one for the ages but as a winner-takes-all dogfight between traditional rivals, it had plenty of spice, including some big bumps on and off the ball.

Kalgoorlie young gun Isaac Billing kicked the opening goal, but it was Railways who controlled general play in the early stages.

But the usually smooth connection going inside the Panthers’ forward 50m arc was not quite there and a wasteful 1.4 to quarter-time provided a lead of just two points.

The margin was 16 points late in the second term, but Kalgoorlie forward Glen Gascoyne pulled back a goal at the 18-minute mark.

Kalgoorlie were still within 12 points midway through the third term.

But in the absence of injured forward Ricky Whitehead — a seven-goal match-winner in the preliminary final — they generally had to work hard for their goals.

The teams traded goals late in the quarter, but Railways made a definitive move with Norman Stubbs’ clever snap that sailed through.

Emotions soared in the shadows of three-quarter-time when Railways’ Trent Reed was crunched on the grandstand wing that earned Kalgoorlie’s Max Taylor a yellow card.

At three-quarter-time, Railways boasted 16 scoring shots to seven but a dogged Kalgoorlie were within striking distance of 19 points and kicking with the breeze.

Kalgoorlie’s flag hopes fell on their ability to kick the opening goal of the last quarter and they delivered when an unchecked Jack Martin marked at close range.

He kicked accurately, but the black-and-whites conceded a free kick in the centre of the ground that also drew a 50m penalty.

Railways’ subsequent forward entry was a missed set shot by Gerald Ugle, but captain Alex Stuart goaled moments later, making the advantage 20 points at the 11-minute mark.

There was still time for Kalgoorlie, but they hurt themselves with some shoddy forward entries that were easily picked off by the Panthers’ defenders.

Railways spent the next few minutes controlling possession before Chris Yarran put an exclamation mark on the result with a goal at the 19-minute mark.

The result was not unexpected, but Kalgoorlie lost no admirers under Rick Butterfield, who led a major late-season revival with a group who lost five of their opening six games.

The downside was that they did not have a multiple goal kicker in the grand final, while in Railways’ camp Yarran and Lachie Gilbert each bagged two goals among six players who hit the scoreboard.

Railways’ Steven Edwards, recruited to the club this year after a successful career in the WAFL for Claremont and South Fremantle, was awarded the Fyson Medal and Subiaco Golds award as best afield.

After Railways misfired for 3.8 to half-time and finished with 13 more scoring shots, Pettit said Kalgoorlie had made them earn the win.

“It’s pure relief really because we did it bloody tough,” Pettit said.

“I thought we played the better footy throughout the day, except inside the forward 50m when we couldn’t convert our opportunities and kept Kalgoorlie hanging around who were good enough to take their opportunities.

“We wanted to start well and put scoreboard pressure on them which we felt might deflate them, which we didn’t do.

“Because of that, they were unbelievable and I said to Butters (Butterfield) after the game that they should hold their heads high and credit to him because he’s taken over a team (after the season was under way) without the benefit of being able to implement any game style during the preseason.

“He’s been able to turn their fortunes around, made them more competitive and maybe with a Ricky Whitehead, they could have got the job done.”

Butterfield said his players had given everything they could as underdogs.

“I couldn’t be prouder with how the squad has come along this year,” Butterfield said.

“To get to that spot (in the grand final) and take it up to a team like Railways for a fair chunk of the match was really impressive by the guys.

“Obviously we got close to them at various stages, but Railways’ structures are impressive and they are a very settled team.”