EFL Media’s Matt Fotia brings you five talking points to emerge from the weekend’s action…
Falcon cream rises to the top
IT was a big weekend for the Lilydale Football Club this weekend as the club celebrated its 1000th EFL game. But early in the last quarter, Daniel Reid crumbed a pack and kicked a lovely goal with outside of his boot to give Upper Gully the lead by one goal. Soon after Lilydale skipper Brad Lowe was sent off for a head high bump on Reid. It seemed everything was in place for the Kings to spoil the party.
But the Falcons’ leaders did what good teams do; they stood up when their team needed them. Co-captain Lochlan Wilson was instrumental with his forward pressure; Patrick Klep started multiple attacks from defence whilst Beau Mitchener combined beautifully with Bryce Batty. Not to mention Tori Klaas-Henry’s ridiculous goal to ignite the Dales. The Falcons remain 7-0 and have the obvious match of the round next week against Doncaster East (don’t worry, it won’t be radio game!)
That isn’t to say the Kings were poor. With 15 minutes to go they looked likely to steal the victory, and will definitely be part of finals footy. I’d be interested to see the result when the two sides meet on the wide-open expanses of Kings Park in the latter part of the year too….
Season-defining game at Mullum Mullum
As quarter time crept closer on Saturday you could be forgiven for thinking that another disappointing Norwood performance was on the cards. The Norsemen had conceded five goals in the opening stanza.
Another big loss and we would have no choice but to write their season off. Come 4:30pm and it was the polar opposite. The Norsemen kicked 11 goals to one in the last three quarters completely shutting out the Tigers. Jordan Gysberts came to the party to be best on ground and Williams kicking four. Norwood found some more variety up forward with seven different goal kickers. A big scalp for the Wooders who prior to this win had only beaten an inconsistent Noble Park side and East Ringwood.
For Balwyn, alarm bells must be ringing. The injuries continue to pile up and its lack of depth is a well-known fact. A 4-3 record, Vermont and Noble Park at home before a trip to Quambee Reserve. The Tigers would be hoping to be at least 5-5, but all of those are lose-able. Any more injuries to key players and the Tigers could have to come to terms with missing finals.
What’s happening at Mooroolbark?
During the pre-season there was plenty of excitement about the Mustangs. Preliminary finalists in 2017 and looking to go a couple better this year. A big win in Round 1 over Doncaster East and they looked set for another assault on finals.
Paul Thatcher took one of the marks of the year over the weekend. PICTURE: Davis Harrigan.
Fast-forward six weeks and the Mustangs are 2-5 after fading horribly in the last quarter against Croydon, kicking one goal to five. They’ve gone from premiership contenders to possible relegation worries. I don’t see them going down but they face Mitcham this week who will be raring to go after getting their first win of the year against Mulgrave. Slip up here and the Mustangs’ stock will have taken one of the biggest nosedives possible.
Blues make their move
Division 3 didn’t serve up any surprises this weekend. The top four sides defeated their opponents with relative ease, Scoresby’s 22-point win over The Basin, the smallest of those wins.
But with the Bears going down, the clash at Warrandyte Reserve was a chance for either the Bloods or the Blues to move onto level-pegging with them in fifth place.
The Blues won every quarter to end up winners by 53 points. Four majors to O’Connell and a best on ground performance by James Coghlan gave the Blues their third win on the bounce and put them back in the discussion for finals footy. They have a winnable game against South Belgrave next week before a virtual finals play-off against The Basin at Batterham Reserve in Round 10. Pencil that one in.
Ram redemption?
We all know about the steady demise that East Burwood has encountered over the last few years. I know we’re probably all sick of hearing about how many records they’re breaking this season; ‘first time since blah blah blah’.
But it could be looking at the ultimate redemption, or at least a form of it. The Rams are currently 8-0 and have withstood every challenge thrown their way with relative ease. They face fellow premiership aspirant Whitehorse Pioneers next weekend, and should they brush them aside as well they’ll have completed the first half of the season without a blemish.
And after the pain the folks out at East Burwood Reserve have endured over the past few seasons, I don’t think they’ll be taking their foot off the gas. Watch this space but the Rams could be looking at a perfect season.
All views expressed in this article remain those of the author and not those of the Eastern Football League or its affiliated clubs.
