After winning three matches mid-year, MRC defeated Warrnambool College 7.2 (44) to 4.5 (29) at Friendly Societies' Park.

Victorious coach Marty Ellul said the thought of consecutive grand final wins was firmly on the players' minds going into the game.

``About 12 boys played in last year's grand final,'' he said.

``The focus was on winning back-to-back cups because the college had never done that before.

``We knew that it was a big opportunity for the group to achieve it.

``The boys are good mates at school and this is the only chance they all get to play together.

``They really love this cup.''

Ellul described the game as a tight contest played at a high standard, with senior Hampden and Warrnambool and District league players scattered all over the ground.

Warrnambool kicked with the wind in the first quarter but it was Mercy which led at the first break by five points.

``We kicked away to a three-goal lead in the second quarter,'' Ellul said.

``In the third quarter Warrnambool College came back and it was only nine points the difference going into the last quarter.''

Mercy managed the only major in the last term to triumph by 15 points.

The coach believed the midfield was the key to victory.

``Kolora-Noorat best-and-fairest winner Ben Moloney dominated all day and Luke Mahony, a senior footballer for Camperdown, was good and so was Tom Watson, an under 15 country schoolboys representative,'' he said.

Moloney was judged best-on-ground while Tim Hunt and Kurt Lenehan were standouts for Warrnambool.

Premiership medallions will be presented to the Mercy Regional College players at their next school assembly.

``We're very, very proud of the boys,'' Ellul said.

``We come from a school with 390 kids whereas Warrnambool College have got about 1400.

``It's nice when a small country school beats a city one.''