BOORT under 17 footballers were the home-town heroes in North Central football on Saturday.
The Chris Hatcher-coached Pies asserted their dominance from one end of Boort Park to the other in the grand final showdown against St Arnaud.
Alex Cockerell was the general in defence, drifting forward and kicking a goal in the final term as the Pies scored a 40-point victory over the Saints.
Boort wasted no time displaying its hunger for flag success after faltering at the last hurdle in 2022.
Brodie Wagner had the first of his three goals on the board in the opening minutes.
Nicholas Scott followed soon after with an accurate kick sprinting towards goal.
Thomas Scarce, Chase Zander and Mason Thomas lifted for the Saints, their work capped off with a Jackson Needs goal. Owen Lowe and Tyson Funston also fuelled a St Arnaud fightback that had the Saints just five points behind at the first break.
Lachlan Hall’s work across the midfield had helped the Pies keep their nose in front.
Boort upped the ante in the second term that had Liam Baker capping off good work by Hall early.
Riley Wagner was constantly putting himself into play and would prove invaluable in many forward lunges by the Pies for the next three quarters.
Scarce and Lowe were still dangerous for the Saints but Cockerell’s strength and leadership across the backline limited St Arnaud to a single behind for the term.
Brady Whykes showed the growing confidence of Boort when he marked, played straight on and goaled late in the term.
Boort’s tackling was intense for the quarter.
There was renewed energy from St Arnaud in the third quarter, uncharacteristic fumbles saw Boort add 1.6. 
St Arnaud capitalised on errors and saw Needs kick his team’s only goal of the term.
Max Beattie put the ball straight to Hall early in the final term for an early goal.
Wagner was on top of opponents around the wing and found Harold Malone who kicked the Pies’ second and Cockerell for a third.
The Saints kept trying to the final siren, an Aidan Wickham goal late in the term adding respect on the scoreboard.
As the siren sounded, signs proclaiming Hashtag Hot Pies were waved into the air and Boort president Kane Arnold started handing out premiership caps to players. The young Pies had claimed the prize.