The Cavaliers dictated the play for most of the 90 minutes and were two-up at the break to ensure they won their first title since 2005.

First half goals from Mathew Sanders and Graham Hockless gave Gully the advantage in front of about 2000 fans.

Fullback Steven Burton ensured the celebrations went ahead with another goal from the penalty spot in the second half.

Gully went in with an unchanged starting line-up, but Jonathan Munoz came in for Ryan Ollerton on the Cavaliers bench.

Richmond coach Michael Chatzitrifonos took in an unchanged side to the one that overcame Hume City 2-1 in the preliminary final last weekend.

It was Richmond who made the early running and young attacker Davey van't Schip flashed a shot wide inside the opening minute.

Experienced midfielder Michael Ferrante was dictating the play in the middle of the park and the Eagles went close again on 10 minutes.

Left back Erhan Karahan put in a diagonal ball for Jesse Krncevic, but Cavaliers centre back Daniel Jones intervened with a last ditch clearance.

The first shot on target came through Krncevic after a quarter of an hour, but it was tame and directly at Nikola Roganovic in the Gully goal.

Gully fullback Burton was booked soon after with Daniel Visevic feeding Ferrante with a quick free kick.

But his shot from the right hand side of the area was too tame at the near post.

Gully began to settle into the game with Graham Hockless and Jeffrey Fleming becoming more prominent in the middle of the park.

Again the Eagles threatened on 26 minutes with Visevic feeding Krncevic up front, but Roganovic stepped off his line to punch clear.

The Cavaliers went ahead with a brilliant team move moments later.

Fleming played a pass into the feet of Hockless who played Jason Hayne behind on the right.

His squared pass allowed Sanders to ghost in and apply a simple finish to open the scoring.

They made it two with another team move on 33 minutes.

Hayne provided a stunning switch for Burton on the left.

His cross was aimed at Brent Fisher whose touch evaded him, falling for the impressive Hockless who tucked home into the bottom corner.

It was almost three for Gully five minutes before the break.

Hockless found himself in acres of space before again feeding Hayne, but his shot deflected over the bar.

Richmond had two good chances before the break.

Visevic managed to outmuscle Jones in the attacking area, but his attempted lob over an advancing Roganovic was parried away.

Moments later, Ferrante swung in a cross from the right for Krncevic, but the tall striker put his difficult header inches wide of the right goal post, leaving Richmond two goals down at the interval.

The Eagles made a substitution at half time with Karahan making way for quick winger Michael Catalano.

Andrew Viola moved to left back with Steven Topalovic dropping back into the right fullback position, allowing Catalano into his position.

Gully came out looking for the killer blow at the start of the second half.

Burton again provided the width on the left hand side, picking out Fisher inside the area, but the striker mistimed his header before Hayne forced Stjepan Gal into a strong save at his near post.

Captain Fleming almost scored a rare goal on 54 minutes, but his 25-yard volley went inches wide with Gal unmoved.

Richmond went close on the hour mark, again through Krncevic.

The striker met Visevic's corner with a strong header, but Hayne cleared off the goal line.

The Eagles were beginning to make the play on the right hand side and a cross from Topalovic again fell for Krncevic on 64 minutes.

But a poor first touch allowed the Cavaliers to easily clear their lines.

Richmond remained in the contest but struggled to create anything in the attacking third with Ferrante and Visevic forced to track deep to gain possession.

Gully inflicted the final and decisive blow on 82 minutes.

Milardovic was adjudged to have brought down Andy Vargas, allowing Burton to step up to the mark and send Gal the wrong way.

His night went from bad to worse when he was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence two minutes later.

It welcomed a swansong appearance for Gully veteran Dean Fak before fellow substitute Munoz struck a glorious chance well over.

Krncevic met another Visevic corner before the final whistle, but again it was directly at Roganovic.

Jubilant scenes followed as Gully comfortably held on to win the championship.