In Laymen’s terms, it was the perfect day for the Yass Roos. In front a healthy contingent of supporters, 22 players went about outsmarting the Gunghalin Jets to claim the club’s first premiership.

Players and supporters received a police escort from Cooma Cottage, meandering around the streets of Yass, kicking off three-day long celebrations.

For Coach Terry Lemon, a key figure in the football club from day one, Saturday’s grand final clash was the dream way to bow out. After 100 games and seven seasons on the coaching staff, Lemon will shed the workload to focus on more important things in his life. “It was a fantastic achievement by the whole town,” Terry said. “It’s an achievement by everyone who’s ever been involved with the club.

“The highlight for me was the way the likes of Ben Scroope, Dave Brown and Ben McCallum stood up during the final series, and the way the team came together.

“The crowd support was enormous… hopefully the win leaves the future of Aussie Rules in Yass in a very healthy state.”

Ruckman Dave Willersdorf, the Roos most capped player with 101 games under his belt, was a worthy man-of-the-match recipient. You’d be hard pressed to find a person who took greater satisfaction out of Saturday’s result than foundation player Willersdorf. Tears streamed down the big man’s face when the full-time siren sounded, emphasising how much the result meant.

The remarkable return of captain and leading goal scorer Brendan Foran was paramount. Foran, the club’s 2006 best and fairest, was considered little chance of playing any further part in the season after suffering shoulder damage in the side’s round 17 clash with Eastlake. His come back wielded four goals and brought back much-needed structure to the forward line. “It was awesome,” Foran said of the big day. “We had a really good preparation; the build up was good and everything just went according to plan.”

Three-and-a-half weeks ago, the Roos’ skipper was coming to terms with the fact his season was over. “I didn’t think I was any chance of coming back, not when I found what I did – I though that was it.”