Diamond Creek keep finals hopes alive with stunning upset road win over Eltham

Diamond Creek coach Craig Hayes heaped praise on his team after a stunning upset on the road over Eltham that keeps the Creekers in the NFL Division 2 finals hunt.

Bryce Adams in action for Diamond Creek.

Diamond Creek produced a stunning upset win over rival Eltham on Saturday to stay in the NFL Division 2 finals race.

The Creekers are just two points behind fourth-placed Thomastown after outclassing the Panthers, 11.8 (74) to 5.8 (38), at Eltham Central Park.

Coach Craig Hayes couldn’t have been happier with his team’s performance against a NFL Division 2 premiership contender.

“It was an awesome win, it was some of the best footy we’ve played for 18 months,” he said.

“A four-quarter effort, lots of pressure, ball use was really strong, couldn’t have been prouder.

Jacob Booth was best on ground for Diamond Creek.

“The message was more about the contested footy, if you can win the contest it doesn’t matter how strong the breeze is.”

Kicking with the wind, Diamond Creek took a 13-point lead into quarter time after holding Eltham to one goal.

The Panthers returned the favour in the second quarter to narrow the margin to four points at the main break, but it was all Creekers after that.

Diamond Creek piled on seven goals to two after half-time, keeping the Panthers to 0.4 in the final term.

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Jacob Booth and Ryan Pingree both kicked three goals to be named Diamond Creek’s best, while Chris Moloney and Bryce Adams also impressed.

Gavan Connolly and Sean Desmond worked hard in defeat for Eltham.

Diamond Creek will face ladder-leader Banyule in a major test this weekend.

“I think we look forward to the challenge, they embarrassed us last time,” Hayes said.

Diamond Creek coach Craig Hayes. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“We look forward to playing the same brand of footy we produced on Saturday and see where it takes us.

“We’re not overawed or daunted by the prospect of playing Banyule, we look forward to it.

“You’ve got to play good footy against good sides because that’s how you rate yourself.”

The win moves Diamond Creek above Fitzroy Stars, while Eltham slips to third behind Whittlesea.

The Eagles kept Epping goalless in a thumping 132-point triumph.

Elsewhere in Division 2, Thomastown overcame the sacking of coach Ben Chapman to defeat Fitzroy Stars by 58 points and St Mary’s continued its winning form with a 45-point victory over Watsonia.

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