SUCCESS was hard to come by for Hume-area sports teams in 2011, even if individual honours did make their way into the region. Teo Pellizzeri looks back on some of the highlights from various sports
EDFL A GRADE
Strathmore won a memorable grand final by two points against Oak Park at Windy Hill, 11.15 (81) to 11.13 (79).
The Mores led by 26 points early in the last quarter but had to send injured players back onto the ground in the brutal affair.
Oak Park had the fresher legs and hit the front 22 minutes into the last term when Ed Clarke's wobbly kick from 40 metres capped a run of five unanswered goals.
But Michael O'Brien goaled from the boundary on the run from the ensuing centre bounce to steal the lead back before a lock-down effort by the Mores meant no more scoring until the final siren.
Craigieburn's Barry Brooks won the RS Reynolds Medal as the league's best and fairest.
Taylors Lakes endured a winless season to suffer relegation.
Jason Akermanis pulled on Aberfeldie colours in a marquee one-off at Clifton Park that drew 2000 fans, while Wayne Carey wowed almost 4000 fans at Maribyrnong Park.
Both contributed a goal each for their respective teams. But the King's reign came to an abrupt end when a calf injury halted his comeback in the first quarter.
Greenvale took home the under-18 premiership, while the senior Jets were eliminated by Strathmore on preliminary final day.
EDFL B GRADE
Pascoe Vale broke through at last to earn promotion to A grade, ending a run of grand final defeats by bettering West Coburg 17.18 (120) to 9.12 (66) in the decider.
Tullamarine got a shot at both grand finalists in the finals series but couldn't find a way past Pascoe Vale in the second semi or West Coburg on preliminary final day.
Northern Saints' Tamer Abdallah won the Bill Hutchison Medal as league best and fairest.
Clubs were given 12 months to prepare for the introduction of a third division, which will occur when Bgrade splits in two after 13 rounds of next season.
TAC CUP
There would be no three-peat of premierships for the Calder Cannons as Sandringham Dragons knocked the perennial contender out in the preliminary final.
Brandon Ellis (Richmond), Tom Sheridan (Fremantle), Daniel Markworth (St Kilda) and Michael Talia (Western Bulldogs) all found new homes in the AFL on national draft day.
SOCCER
Hume City's challenge for the Victorian Premier League ended in penalty shoot-out pain after 120 minutes of scoreless soccer in the preliminary final.
Richie Cardozo would win the golden boot as the league's top scorer and the Bill Fleming Medal for media player of the year.
It was a season of consolidation for Upfield in provisional 2 north-west, while Hume United failed to challenge for promotion in state 3.
North City Lions were stuck mid-table in provisional 1.
CRICKET
Broadmea dows made the Victorian Sub-District Cricket Association finals but ultimately fell to powerhouse Melton in the North-West knock-out stages.
Tullamarine was the only grand finalist from the Hume area in Victorian Turf Cricket Association, but it faltered with the bat as Footscray United won outright in the decider.
Pascoe Vale Central went back-to-back in the Luscombe Shield by beating Buckley Park in the final, the last time the competition was contested as part of the North West Cricket Association.
An amalgamation with the Moreland Moonee Valley Cricket Association created the North West Metropolitan Cricket Association, which will replace both competitions.
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