SUNDAY was grand final day - the annual explosion of colour and emotion - in the Dandenong District Junior Football League.

Scenes of joy, despair and sportsmanship played out across five venues in a 19-game, eight-hour feast of footy.

Local clubs Beaconsfield, Berwick, Officer and Pakenham all tasted premiership glory during the day, sharing in five flags from 10 grand final appearances.

@BT Sub Sport Gaz:BEACONSFIELD

Beaconsfield Blue made it back-to-back flags for the Eagles in the Under-16 Premiers division, fighting off a gallant Berwick side to win by three points in the feature game at Shepley Oval.

Club president Anthony Thomas was suitably proud of his top-age stars, describing the premiership triumph as the perfect finale to their junior careers.

“The pleasing thing is that they’re all local kids,” he beamed afterwards.

“Most of them have been right through from under-9s to under-16s, so we’ve done it with home-grown talent and we’re proud of that.”

Thomas was equally keen to recognise the efforts of Beacy’s two under-12 sides, which split the spoils with Cranbourne in the Red and Blue divisions.

Cranny lifted the cup in the Red division after registering a five-goal win over Beaconsfield Blue, only for the undefeated Beacy Gold to return fire with a comfortable 28-point result in the following game at Strathaird Reserve.

@BT Sub Sport Gaz:BERWICK

Berwick had a strong contingent of four teams in Sunday’s deciders, but the results didn’t quite fall the way of the young Wickers.

The Berwick Blue side took the honours in the Under-15 Premiers division, courtesy of a 13-point win over Narre Warren, but the 16s, 13s and 11s all lowered their colours.

That did little to dampen the enthusiasm of club president Andrew Young.

“They all had a red-hot go and a couple (of teams) lost by under a goal, so overall it was a good performance,” Young said.

“From a club point of view, having nine teams in the finals is probably a better reflection on our season.”

@BT Sub Sport Gaz:OFFICER

IT was a day of firsts for the Officer Kangaroos, starting with the club’s first under-10 premiership; the result of a 16-point win over Endeavour Hills in the Blue division.

That made Roos’ coach Tony Ellet the junior club’s first dual-premiership coach, following his successful season as an under-11 coach some years ago.

Club president Mick Sparkes thanked Ellet for his contribution to the club and praised the players for their rapid improvement during the season.

Meanwhile, Officer also made its first grand final appearance in the under-16 age group, going in as the firm favourite against Cranbourne in Division Two.

Unfortunately though, the 15-0 Roos stumbled at the last hurdle to go down by just six points.

“The under-16s, in their last year at the club, conducted themselves so well,” Sparkes said.

“They were a strong and fair team, but it just wasn’t their day.”

@BT Sub Sport Gaz:PAKENHAM

Pakenham’s under-13 players carried the hopes of their club into Sunday’s Red division grand final against Narre North, and they didn’t disappoint.

As the only Pakenham team to make the grand final, the young Lions thrived on the extra support from clubmates and parents at Doveton’s Robinson Reserve, making a late surge to get over the Foxes by a goal in a low-scoring encounter.

Club president Steve Moloney was among the legion of Lions supporters at the ground.

“It was all square at three-quarter time, but they came out in the last quarter and got the result, so it was terrific,” he said.

“Nearly the whole club was out there to watch and it was great to see lots of blue, maroon and gold around the place.”