REDLANDS Parrots president Todd Flahey finished the club's anniversary season in humorous fashion when he sent a pitch invader crashing to the turf during Saturday's grand final at Thornlands.
Approaching the end of the men's division one decider between Redlands and Beerwah, Flahey pursued a pitch-invader and brought him to ground with a bone-rattling tackle on the halfway line.
Redlands lost the game 34-8 as their opponents Beerwah secured their first piece of silverware in more than four decades.
The men's division three side fell to Brothers 34-4 in the day's earlier game.
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Despite the losses, Flahey said he was proud of the teams and applauded them for reaching the grand final in a heavily interrupted season.
He joked that he had finished the day with excellent stats after his hit on the pitch invader in his role as duty official.
"It was a very rowdy crowd," he said. "They (the fans) got off the bus and had a few liquid encouragements.
"I didn't miss a tackle. I played all right if I do say so myself."
The pitch invader's run started a chain reaction, with a few other fans making their way onto the field soon after.
"He did the Harold Holt nice and early to celebrate with his team," Flahey said.
"They were excited because they were winning before the final bell. We kind of knew they were going to run on."
The crowd loved every minute of Flahey's tackle.
He joked that he still had plenty of pace at his age, having chased the pitch invader down despite giving up about a 20 metre head start.
"I let him go and he went and celebrated," Flahey said "He was harmless.
"He had a headstart but was oblivious to what was going to hammer him on the halfway line."
Both grand final teams played well in the lead-up to the final, with the division one side finishing fourth and the division three side third after the regular season.
Flahey said making the grand final was a fine achievement in itself.
"Both of the opposition teams were really good football sides," he said.
"As a club and as a president we are extremely proud of the boys getting to that big dance.
"Our boys were not only able to mix it with the best, but made the grand final. They have done the club and the jersey proud."
The division one decider was a fiery affair, with two Beerwah players sent to the sin bin for their role in a melee on halftime.
Redlands scored first in the game but it was the Bulldogs who came home with a wet sail, running out 34-8 winners.
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