Fremantle’s US partner club the Cincinnati Dockers won their second USAFL Division 4 championship with a hard fought victory over the Orange County/Des Moins Bombers last weekend.

Played over two days at Heritage Park, Ohio, the Cincinnati line-up went into the grand final as favourites after an undefeated series.

The Cincinnati Dockers, who were established in 1996, are based in Fairfield, Ohio, and are the oldest Australian rules football club in the United States. This year was the team’s fourth season in the championship.

The top seed in Group A, the Cincinnati Dockers showed why in their first two matches coming beating the Golden Gate/Las Vegas Roos by 51 points and the Orange County/Des Moins Bombers by 53 points.

After a strong 75 point win over Minnesota/Kansas City in the semi-final, Cincinnati moved into their second consecutive grand final, playing the Orange County/Des Moins Bombers once again.

Both teams made a few selection changes from their previous encounter but goals were hard to come by.

The Bombers kicked the first goal but Cincinnati soon dominated possession and by half-time the Dockers were leading, despite inaccuracy in front of the goals.

In the second half, the Cincinnati Dockers continued their domination but both teams still had trouble finding the goals. In the end Cincinnati held on to win their second USAFL championship 3.15 to 2.1.

Cincinnati full forward Matt Seuling won the Paul Roos medal for MVP of the Division 4 tournament, while on-baller Eric Floyd won the Geoff Cann medal as MVP in the Division 4 grand final.