Vermont Eagles soar to 16-point win over Montrose in Eastern Football League Division 1 qualifying final
THERE’S no percentage in finals. That was the refrain in the Vermont rooms after the Eagles won the Division 1 qualifying final by 16 points against Montrose at Bayswater Oval on Saturday.
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THERE’S no percentage in finals.
That was the refrain in the Vermont rooms after the Eagles cruised home to win the Division 1 qualifying final by 16 points against Montrose at Bayswater Oval on Saturday.
The Eagles took their foot off the pedal in the final term, having done enough to lead by 45 points early in the quarter to stitch up the win.
Vermont coach Steve Cochrane wasn’t fussed by the fade out.
“We were well and truly safe and had control of the game I thought,” he said.
“At the end of the day, we won the game. There’s no percentage in finals.
“We knew Montrose was going to come out hard.
“They were the only side we haven’t beaten this year. We had a point to prove to them. I thought today we did.”
Cochrane’s Eagles were impressive in their first finals outing.
After a tight first term, Vermont weathered some Montrose attacks early in the second before a late surge saw them retake the lead.
Justin Van Unen converted from a tough angle, before Ash Froud and Kyle Emley did the same, all from the scoreboard pocket.
It seemed to be the scoring pocket and, when Van Unen slotted home a set shot from there after the half-time siren, the Eagles were 19 points up.
The Eagles had the chance to put the game away in the third term thanks to a friendly breeze blowing to the Mountain Highway end, and they did it well.
Van Unen launched a helicopter punt home from 50, before Lachy Johns slotted two goals in the space of a minute, the second a spectacular burst from midfield and long-range beauty.
The two sides traded goals late in the term to have the Eagles up by 38 points at the final change.
Van Unen kicked the first of the fourth quarter, his fourth of the day, to snuff out any chance of a Montrose comeback.
Montrose did launch a comeback, but it was all too late, as the Eagles took the win 16.7 (103) to 13.9 (87).
“Our forward line worked quite well together,” Cochrane said.
“Some of our midfield work was really good, particularly in the second half. Some of our clearances were fantastic.
“Our backs struggled a bit early but bounced back well. It was a great effort.”
Meanwhile, in the elimination final, Balwyn staged a brilliant fightback to beat Blackburn 11.8 (74) to 7.10 (52). at Tormore Reserve
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