EDFL 2018: East Sunbury midfielder Tom Cree given reprimand for striking

East Sunbury has already qualified for its first EDFL Division 2 grand final, but it has received another boost with one of its stars beating a striking charge.

East Sunbury's Tom Cree will be available for the grand final. Picture: Josie Hayden

EAST Sunbury has received a boost in the lead up to the Essendon District Football League Division 2 grand final with star midfielder Tom Cree beating a striking charge.

Cree was handed a severe reprimand at Tuesday night’s tribunal hearing after he was reported following an incident with Northern Saints’ Khodr Taleb during Saturday’s preliminary final.

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Cree has been named in his team’s best 10 times from 20 games and has 15 goals to his name this season.

The Thunder will tackle Roxburgh Park in the decider at Windy Hill on Saturday as it chases its maiden senior premiership.

“It’s massive for our club to have a player like Tom, and he’s highly regarded within not only our club but the competition,” East Sunbury president Keith Osborne said.

“He’s won under-19 best and fairests before in the league and to have Tom back in the selection criteria is massive. When the news came back, it was definitely a very relieved playing group.

“In this situation, where there is video evidence in a tribunal, it can work for you or against you.

“We always thought that Tom didn’t deserve to miss out for the incident which had happened, but also understand there’s a process and the umpires have the players’ safety paramount.

“The case we put up last night was extremely well-prepared.

“The tribunal doesn’t have easy role. You’re talking about blokes missing grand finals, it’s never a great thing.”

East Sunbury has won knockout finals against Moonee Valley and the Saints after finishing the home-and-away rounds in fourth position.

It has won its past four games under coach Glenn Hopkins, who replaced Steve Grey in June.

The club’s last loss came against Roxburgh Park in Round 18 as it went down by a solitary point at home.

Lucas Shaw missed East Sunbury’s preliminary final victory. Picture: Hamish Blair

In more good news for the Thunder, skipper Lucas Shaw is a chance to play in the grand final after he was sidelined on Saturday because of an ankle injury sustained in his side’s win over Moonee Valley in the first week of finals.

“With all the triumphs and the knock-backs we’ve had this year, to get to a grand final is a massive achievement for our club,” Osborne said.

“In senior football terms at our club, it’s probably the biggest day in our history.

“Roxburgh Park, probably at the back end of the season, were the benchmark club.

“The last game we had was an absolute cracker against them.

“The week off always helps in this circumstance, but we feel we’ve got good momentum rolling. The good thing is we’ve kept things really consistent through the finals and probably the impressive thing is watching how calm this young group is.”