IT WAS a case of third time lucky for Tayla McMillan and her Eastern Ranges teammates on the weekend. After back-to-back grand final losses to the Oakleigh Chargers, McMillan’s side finally lifted the Coates Talent League Girls premiership cup aloft following a 38-point win over Dandenong Stingrays at Ikon Park on Saturday.

>> MATCH REPORT: Eastern Ranges 10.8 (68) def. Dandenong Stingrays 4.6 (30)

Following the side’s premiership win, McMillan was deservedly announced as best on ground following an enormous effort of 29 disposals, three marks, eight clearances and 11 inside 50s. The Eastern Ranges skipper made it back-to-back best on ground medal wins for premiership skippers following in the footsteps of now Geelong defender Sienna Tallariti.

It was somewhat fitting that Tallariti was across the border helping the Cats secure a five-point win over Port Adelaide in the AFL Women’s, while McMillan was dominating around the ball. Post-game, the Eastern Ranges star was embracing family and friends, including Vic Metro teammates such as Chloe Bown and Bailee Martin who had enjoyed the victory 12 months earlier while McMillan and the Ranges had planned a way to go one better.

Post-game, McMillan spoke of the emotions of winning after a couple of tough losses on the final day of the Coates Talent League Girls season.

“Pretty happy, you know it’s been two years that we’ve lost it in a row, so it’s good to finally get the win, so very happy,” she said.

McMillan said the accomplishment of winning a flag with Eastern was “definitely number one” on her overall achievements, because of having to wait to taste that success and doing it in her final junior game. To earn best afield honours was just the icing on the cake.

“That was pretty cool as well, everyone played pretty well in that team and from Dandy, so it was pretty cool to hear my name get called out,” McMillan said.

As for the key to success on the third try, the Eastern Ranges captain credited the bond the playing group had, and the way they had worked hard all year to get back to the grand final.

“I feel like we just really bonded well from the start,” McMillan said. “We’ve done that quite often throughout the other years as well but I think this year we really started at the start, bonded really well and continued momentum throughout the year.”

While McMillan has a big few months coming up with the National Draft Combine in less than two weeks, and then finding out her AFL Women’s fate in mid-December, she said she would “celebrate” the moment.

“Yeah celebrate after this,” she said. “Last junior game, so take in the moment and all that we can, just celebrate it.”