EDFL 2019: Pascoe Vale coach Digby Morrell labels loss embarrassing

Pascoe Vale coach Digby Morrell has given his verdict on the club's disastrous elimination defeat after the club attracted plenty of criticism.

Pascoe Vale’s Dean Soncin is put under pressure against Strathmore. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Pascoe Vale coach Digby Morrell says his team was “embarrassed” in a disastrous elimination final defeat but believes the EDFL club’s progress will be evident at the end of next season.

The Panthers ended a two-year absence from Premier Division finals after finishing the home-and-away rounds in fourth position.

But they produced a forgettable performance against Strathmore at Coburg City Oval, losing by 40 points in the wet, 6.13 (49) to 1.3 (9).

Pascoe Vale, which boasts one of the best forward lines in the competition, was goalless until the last quarter, drawing fierce criticism after a mostly positive first season under Morrell’s guidance.

Tempers flare at Coburg City Oval. Picture: Mark Dadswell

“I’ve been a bit frustrated with it,” Morrell said.

“We obviously had a team to go further, but you’ve got to bring it on the day.

“Strathmore played the conditions (well), attacked the ball and were way too good for us, so we didn’t deserve to go to the next level.

“But in 12 months’ time, we’ve got to look back then to see whether this has been a successful year or not.

“If we’re in a scenario where we’re rolling into a prelim final or a grand final, then 2019 was a successful year. Time will tell.”

MORE NEWS FROM THE EDFL

NEW COBURG DISTRICTS COACH DISCUSSES HIS PLAN

GLENROY COACH DECLARES THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT

MIGHTY MICK LEADS KEILOR TO THE EDFL GRAND FINAL

STRATHMORE COACH ISSUES WARNING TO ABERFELDIE

The Panthers had just two behinds on the scoreboard at the final change of ends, with spearhead Matthew Watson nailing their only goal in the last quarter.

Matthew Stillman, Luke Foster and Julian Hemala were named the losing side’s best.

“We were embarrassed with the way we went about it … taking nothing away from Strathmore,” Morrell said.

“In terms of our attack on the ball, our footy smarts and ability to pressure the opposition, it was really poor.

“Strathmore got a good jump on us and we just couldn’t get anything going. But we’ve got to deal with that … and our group has to deal with the external comments on what we did because what they saw was what they’ll walk away thinking the Pascoe Vale Football Club was about in 2019.”

Pascoe Vale fielded a new-look line-up this season, with Hemala, Stillman, Ben Allan, Jack Whaley, Liam Ogden, Daniel Johncock, Josh Cauchi, Daniel Archer and Errol McConnell among the recruits who featured in the loss to the Mores.

Morrell said the list would be subject to a thorough review with the large gap between the Panthers’ best and worst creating frustration.

Pascoe Vale lost two games to undefeated grand finalist Keilor by a total of 13 points, proving it is a formidable opponent at its best. Morrell remains confident this year will ultimately prove a stepping stone to success despite the poor finish.

“We had a massive list change last year,” he said.

“It could have quite easily taken us a longer period to settle and I think we showed our best was very good.”

Morrell will continue at the helm in 2020.

WHAT A LEADER LOCAL FOOTY SUBSCRIPTION GIVES YOU ACCESS TO

— Match reports, features, player and coach movements and analysis of all the leagues across Melbourne.

— Unprecedented AFL coverage.

— All the latest football news from across the country including Herald Sun, Daily Telegraph and Courier-Mail.

— Latest news and videos from the world’s leading leagues.

— Exclusive digital stories and videos before they go to print.