After missing out last year, Bright have once again reached the summit of the reserves football competition with their first flag since 2023. The Mountain Men’s second squad took out the premiership on a gorgeous day at WJ Findlay Oval on Saturday, defeating Bonnie Doon 7.10 (52) to 4.3 (27). Taking to the field, it was frantic football early, as stoppages dominated and the ball was pinging between the arcs. It was a low-scoring first half, with just two goals put between the big sticks in a testament to how evenly matched and determined each squad was to take the flag home. With a chance to reset and go again in the second half, Bright came out of the rooms with a red-hot intensity and fight on the ball. Marcus Kinthari was explosive and dynamic, utilising his speed to carve up the midfield and even impact the scoreboard. The Mountain Men added three goals and a handful of scoring shots to their ledger, heaping the pressure on the Bombers and leading by three goals at the final change of end. While Bonnie Doon managed to add some respectability to the scoreboard, the Mountain Men were simply far too good. The clean skills on display and hard running both ways lifted the Mountain Men across the park, and as the lead grew and the time remaining lessened, the noise from the crowd grew louder and louder. Ultimately, while their accuracy left something to be desired, they’d done enough, and Bright were reserve grade premiers once again. Marcus Kinthari’s hard work and sheer speed and fight earned him best on ground honours, and was the Mountain Men’s only multiple goal kicker. Brad Nightingale was the general down back, while Tom Gray, Chad Martin and Dylan Bursill were also named among the best for Bright. Coach Regan Alexander said it was a tremendous result for a season of hard work. “It’s a great reward for effort, really,” he said after the match. “Credit to Bonnie Doon, they’re a fantastic footy club, so it was always going to be a very big grind. “Finals footy is always tough, very low scoring, so it was always going to take a four-quarter effort. “Both sides were probably very similar - I think we were very comfortable knowing our fitness was going to get us over the line, so we knew we could break it open in the second half. “He [Kinthari] was brilliant - sometimes he just needs to back himself in, but a big ground, dry ground, it was really his type of conditions.”
