EDFL 2018: Roxburgh Park advances to Division 2 grand final with win over Northern Saints

MARK Roxburgh Park down as premiership favourite. While nothing is a fait accompli at this time of the year, the Magpies are fit and firing at the right time in EDFL Division 2.

MARK Roxburgh Park down as premiership favourite.

While nothing is a fait accompli at this time of the year, the Magpies are fit and firing at the right time in Essendon District Football League Division 2.

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The flag race has been wide open all season, but Northern Saints and Moonee Valley were largely recognised as the leading contenders.

After failing to reach finals last season, Roxburgh Park stamped its ticket to the decider at Windy Hill on September 15 by producing a scintillating performance against the Saints in Saturday’s major semi-final.

The Magpies restricted their usually free-scoring opponent to one goal in the first three quarters in an awe-inspiring 61-point triumph, 15.7 (97) to 4.12 (36), at Coburg City Oval, while East Sunbury defeated Moonee Valley by 28 points in the elimination final.

Roxburgh Park players celebrate a goal during the major semi-final against Northern Saints. Picture: Jamie Morey

Roxburgh Park sent a notice of warning to its flag rivals with a 61-point win over Moonee Valley in the final round of the home-and-away season.

The Magpies might have finished in second spot, but they are the undisputed beat team in the competition at the moment.

First-year coach Michael Farrelly rated the performance “probably the most complete” his side had produced in 2018.

“The boys are all clicking at the right time, which is really good,” Farrelly said.

“It was a really good effort … with everyone in the team having a role to play, and every single one of them did their job, which is going to make it extremely hard come match selection if there’s anyone to come back.

“I think the last two games have been really top-notch for us. We’ve certainly hit the mark, but very similar to the Moonee Valley game as well, Northern Saints had no bench after the first quarter because the game was quite physical.

“We’re under no illusions that things certainly went our way.

“It was just one of those days, two weeks in a row, where we’ve just played really good footy.”

Roxburgh Park's Harley Short in action in the major semi-final against Northern Saints. Picture: Jamie Morey

Northern Saints guns Khodr Taleb and Rocky Ferraro — who have 120 goals between them this year — contributed just one major.

Ryan Micallef, Adrian Mackinnon, Farrelly and Travis Cooke were named Roxburgh Park’s best, while Luke Capuano bagged six goals.

Farrelly said his defence was “phenomenal”.

“They had a fair few points, but a lot of them were long range shots and shots from acute angles,” he said.

“Our backs have really been trained on allowing space in dead areas, so if they (the opposition) are going to mark it, they’re going to have shots from pockets and those sorts of things.”

The Magpies lost to the Saints three times during the regular season — by 65 points, seven points and 12 points — but were the better side when it mattered most.

They also have no injury concerns and Farrelly said his team’s preparation would not change as they enjoy the week off.

“We’ll still do our regular thing and try to keep it as regular as possible,” he said.

“We’ll probably have a Saturday session as well, just to make sure the guys are staying in the routine.

“We’re not going to reinvent the wheel for one game.”