The perfect first season in the Eastern Football Netball League for the Eastern Devils, making two Grand Finals, going on to win the Premier A premiership.
By Ryan Long.
Eastern Devils
Ladder Position: 1st (13-1, 344.78)
Best and Fairest: Ash Allsopp
Leading Goalkicker: Shelly Beggs (48)
Summary:
A year to savour for the Eastern Devils who entered the Eastern Football Netball League for the first time, crossing over from the South East Women’s Football League.
With a very strong list, the club had no issues transitioning into the Eastern league, having played a couple of their new opponents in practice matches. They had the best start possible to the season, winning their first eight games before having their first and only loss for the year against Mount Evelyn.
A 13 and 1 season saw the Devils finish on top of the home and away ladder, four wins ahead of second place. They had the number one ranked attack and defence in the Premier A competition. The side averaged an impressive 73 points per game in the regular season while averaging 21 points per game against.
They came into the finals as the overwhelming Premiership favourites. They took care of Mount Evelyn comfortably in the first week of the finals, winning by 55 points with Hunt and Allsopp combining for five goals.
Two weeks later, they met South Croydon in the Grand Final. Although they were challenged throughout the game, the Eastern Devils won by 29 points to take home the Premier A division premiership.
Key Players:
Four Devils made the EFNL Team of the Year for Premier A and B, Ashleigh Allsopp, Shelly Beggs, Olivia Aing and Morgan Cocks.
Allsopp was a key player up forward with 23 goals for the season, winning the club best and fairest. Partner in crime, Shelly Beggs was just as important, leading the club’s goal kicking with 48 for the year, the runner up in the B&F.
Amanda Tessari had a fantastic year in defence, in the club’s best players eight times from 15 games while the likes of Sarah Mcnamara and Riley Cridland led the way from the front.
Best Win: Grand Final – Eastern Devils 8.7 55 def. South Croydon 4.2 26 @H.E Parker Reserve
A great day for the club, successfully finishing off a dominant year with a Grand Final win over South Croydon. After a tight opening term, the Devils gave themselves a handy lead, kicking two goals, eight scoring shots to none in the second term. The Devils managed to hold onto that lead with an even third term. South Croydon threw everything they had the Devils but as they had done all season, the Minor Premiers ran the game out well, keeping the Dogs scoreless to run out 29-point winners.
A fantastic achievement for the club in just their first EFNL season.
Off-Season Focus:
It’s no question that the club will go into the 2023 season as the team to beat. They’ll be keen to retain their senior group as well as their reserves team with aims of going back-to-back. It’s a side with zero passengers, every player played their role which made the Devils such a hard side to defeat on any weekend.
Eastern Devils Black
Ladder Position: 2nd (10-3, 442.04%)
Best and Fairest: Jordan Rule
Leading Goalkicker: Kelsey Reade (21)
Summary:
The Eastern Devils also competed in Division Four with a reserves team that had a great year too, also making the Grand Final.
Like the senior side, the club had a fantastic start to the season, winning ten of their first eleven matches. They hit the 100-point mark a total of four times across the year, their highest score was a massive 184 in the early rounds of the season.
A couple of losses at the end of the season meant the Devils would finish second on the home and away ladder behind Vermont Gold. The two met in the first week of the finals with the Eagles keeping the Eastern Devils goalless in the first three quarters. The loss meant the side had to knock off the SBL Wolves a week later to have another shot at the Eagles in the Grand Final. A comfortable 35-point win meant the Eastern Devils would have two teams competing at H.E Parker Reserve on Grand Final Day.
In a tight affair, the Devils fell just four points short of the Division Four premiership. It was a gallant performance, leading at several stages, even having a couple of late chances in the dying minutes, almost pinching victory.
Key Players:
Jordan Rule was fantastic in the midfield, winning the club’s best and fairest. Not only did she perform in the Reserves, she also finished the year as a premiership player in the seniors side. Finishing just behind her in the count as the Runner Up was Kerryl Sugumar, still new to the sport.
Kelsey Reade was the leading goal kicker for the Eastern Devils Black side, kicking 21 goals from 16 games. Sally Packman topped off a great seaso by finishing in the Team of the Year for Divisions One to Four in the back pocket.
Best Win: Preliminary Final – Eastern Devils Black 6.4 40 def. SBL Wolves Teal 0.5 5 @HE Parker Reserve
It may not have been their most comprehensive victory of the season but it sure was their most important. The Preliminary Final came just two weeks after the Wolves defeated the Devils in the final round of the home and away season to make it. This however would be a much different outcome with the Eastern Devils never looking like losing. They kept the Wolves goalless all day, winning by 35 points. Melanie Murray finished with three of the side’s side goals, helping the side progress to the decider.
Off-Season Focus:
The Reserves side this season proved their best football could compete with anyone in the division which is a big positive looking forward. They’ll want to make sure they can retain the group and give themselves a real chance at adding more silver wear to the trophy cabinet.