Shipton coached from the sidelines on Saturday wearing a moon boot and walking around with crutches after being forced to withdraw from the preliminary final against Rocherlea over what he termed was a “sore foot”. 

“There’s no way I could’ve played today,” Shipton said, “but I’ll get myself right.”

But the joy of his return amid celebrations of Bracknell’s 16.11 (107) to 10.12 (73) victory at Rocherlea was soured when club favourite Josh Nunn was stretchered off late in the match with a suspected broken ankle.

Nunn had been expected to play his farewell game for the Redlegs in the grand final after falling one win short in 2008, 2012 and 2016.

“He’s a very loyal captain and coach of previous years, and if you ask the boys right now, we’ll get up for him as well,” Shipton said.

Rocherlea had steamed out of the blocks with four of the first five goals of the final, including three early from Cody Weedon that had the Tigers well on top.

But a crucial double 50-metre penalty after the siren to Jackson Chorley kept the Redlegs within 12 points at quarter-time. 

“We knew they were going to start well,” Shipton said.

“Our second, third and fourth quarters are generally pretty good anyway.

“We just had to rectify their start and try to keep with them in the first quarter because we knew our run would come into the game.”

Tigers forward Josh Holton roved off a pack in the goal square to stretch the lead in the second, but after that point Bracknell dominated with 14 of the next 19 goals.

Redlegs pair Eric Izbicki and Joey Cullen both replied inside two minutes and by the time Callum Mulder scored consecutive goals the deficit turned into a 15-point advantage.

A repeat five goal-to-two term – that had included four unanswered goals – had all but sealed Rocherlea’s fate and hopes of defending its 2016 NTFA title.

Glenn Dawson proved an elusive focal point for the Redlegs up forward, while teammates Jacob Gelston and Charlie Archer were committed to the cause to give their side a 28-point break at the last change. 

“We were really confident with our structures and the way we play,” Shipton said.

“So it was just a matter of us putting four quarters together and today it was more three and a bit.”

Rocherlea battled hard but were devoid of answers in the last quarter, looking fatigued as a third straight knockout final appeared to take its toll on the players.

But coach Lyndon Stubbs refuted suggestions instead repeatedly calling the day as “just disappointing”.

“The boys were still ready to go – there was no excuses there,” Stubbs said.

“It’s not acceptable excuse to use. If anything, I would’ve thought it would give us a harder mental preparation.”