Mores coach Digby Morrell could not overcome a shoulder injury to play in the match, replaced by Patrick Fitzgerald.

Strathmore jumped out of the blocks and peppered the target with early points before Joel Reynolds kicked two goals, Tim Harvey a goal and Jordan Doering a fourth as the Mores led 28 to 1 at quarter time.

Oak Park reduced the deficit to 18 points at half time after a willing second quarter, before launching an all-out assault that failed to make an impact on the scoreboard in the third.

The Kangaroos’ run and rebound would rule the third quarter but yield 2.8, the eight behinds consecutively, to close within 13 points at the last change.

Strathmore would rally with the opening two goals of the final term via Matt Knight and Fitzgerald to lead by 26.

But Oak Park’s run would again take over as three goals in six minutes closed the margin to eight, setting up the grand-stand finish.

EDFL A-GRADE GRAND FINAL

Oak Park 11.13 (79) lt Strathmore 11.15 (81)

Oak Park goals: Ed Clarke, Jack Pascu, Liam Turner 2, Sam Higgs, Benjamin Considine, Jesse Smith, Andrew Smith, Alex Gleeson 1

Best: Not named

Weekly Best: Victor Siciliano, Marc Lord, Ed Clarke, Jesse Smith, Jack Pascu, Frank Raso

Strathmore goals: Joel Reynolds, Jordan Doering, Tim Harvey 2, Matthew Knight, Daniel Jones, Matthew Fitzgerald, Michael O'Brien, Karl Staudt 1

Best: Matthew Fitzgerald, Michael Heyne, Matthew Carroll, Glen Carrick, Michael O'Brien, Michael Moro

Big call

Strathmore coach Digby Morrell made the hard call on his own selection before leading his team to victory in the EDFL A-grade grand final from the boundary.

Patrick Fitzgerald was called in for Morrell and played a key role in the victory with a shut-down job on Oak Park’s Alex Gleeson.

Adam Winter would ruck the majority of the day for Strathmore, while Daniel Jones spent the majority of the game in the forward line in Morrell’s absence.

The Strathmore coach was full of praise for his players after locking down the stoppages in the dying stages to deny Oak Park’s run.

‘‘The boys played out our plan really well for the whole day. We knew if we kept getting re-starts we’d win the game and win the day,’’ Morrell said.

‘‘We played two short the whole day, Ty Zantuck battled on with a calf and we lost Funky Campbell with a knee early so to get the job done was unreal.

‘‘You don’t doubt the intense attack around the ball, the guys have shown that all year and it’s been the standard all year.

‘‘I thought our senior players stood up really well. That was the key in the end, we were tense in the last couple of minutes but it was a fantastic result.

‘‘I definitely don’t think it was about exploiting match-ups, Adam Winter got his hand on the ball early and we had 16 to four clearances early, and when you have a clearance rate like that you have to put it on the board early and we did.’’

Morrell said he wouldn’t jeopardise the team’s chances by playing with a shoulder injury.

‘‘I gave myself every chance during the week,’’ he said.

‘‘I spoke to a lot of specialists, I’ve got a grade three AC which is a 12 week injury. I could get enough movement in my shoulder to mark the ball but in pressure situations you can’t put yourself in the firing line because one bump could be the end of the game.

‘‘I didn’t come up but nobody cares about that now.

‘‘We were very happy with where our season was at and knew we had that ability at the start of the year and put it on the board. A lot of sides probably took us a little lightly early in the year. We’ve stamped ourselves as one of the players in the comp again.

‘‘Anyone out of the top four could have won it really, that’s the way this season was. I guess we’re happy to be standing here at the end.

‘‘It helps when Pat Fitzgerald comes in off a 14-day hamstring and does a great job on Gleeson who’s a real barometer for them.’’

Michael O'Brien

Michael O’Brien made sure his last quarter in footy was a special one.

Slotting a goal from the boundary in the dying stages, the Strathmore midfielder retired after providing the decisive moment of the grand final.

O’Brien goaled after a chain of possessions ended with Matthew Fitzgerald sending him into space against the boundary in the forward pocket.

‘‘The handball was that good that he gave me it propelled me forward a bit, it was split-second and I’ve just got to have a go at it,’’ O’Brien said.

‘‘I just knew into the wind it might hold it up. I didn’t know how much time there was but we needed another goal to hit the front so I just had a go at it.

‘‘Obviously we had to kick one to get in front, but if we kicked one more and the way we played the stoppages we could have held them. I got good purchase on it and it was good to go through. As soon as I kicked it, I knew it was a bit chance but I watched it all the way because I didn’t want to crow too early.

‘‘I was making sure whether it was (Sam) Higgs or (Tom) German or (Jack) Pascu we were manning them one-on-one. We couldn’t give them any free players because the way they were playing they would have gone forward again.

‘‘Those last eight minutes felt like it was 20. I thought there was another five to seven minutes to go, because with the stoppages the quarter would go longer.’’

O’Brien, 31, said a back surgery two years ago had cut short his time in football and the time was right to hang up the boots.

‘‘Too me it means everything because this is my last game, with the back operation and my wife expecting our first child at the end of the year I didn’t want to push my luck. So to me to win a flag and to kick a goal with almost my last kick is pretty good, I’ll remember it forever.’’

O’Brien retires after seven seasons with Strathmore having joined the club from Kyneton after being recruited by Craig Hille.