EDFL: Coburg Districts overcome Burnside Heights in elimination final

Coburg Districts sat second last after the first five games of the season but is now one win away from the EDFL Division 2 decider. Here’s why they never gave up.

It’s a marathon not a sprint.

A saying Coburg Districts has lived by throughout the 2022 Essendon District League Division 2 season.

After five rounds, the Lions sat second bottom with a 1-4 record, a percentage of just 58.63 and an injury list which continued to grow.

Finals footy was the furthest thing from their mind — getting bodies back on the park was the only option.

The Tom Gleeson coached Lions would go onto lose just one more game for the season to finish third.

Now they’re just one win away from an unlikely grand final appearance after beating Burnside Heights 12.11 (83) to 10.8 (68) at Glenroy’s Sewell Reserve on Sunday.

Despite a horror start to the year, Gleeson and his club never stopped believing.

“Internally we always thought we could get to the pointy end but unfortunately we were riddled with injury at the start of the year,” he said.

“Credit to the boys. There were probably stages through the season where you thought ‘are we going to get there’.

Jack Slavich of Coburg Districts.Photo: Hamish Blair

“But there was always that inner belief that if we got some continuity in our group we could win enough games.

“I didn’t think we played well on the weekend but good finds find a way to win when they don’t play as well as they want to.

“Proud as punch. They really deserve the opportunity to go out there and give themselves a chance of playing in a grand final.”

Ricky McGill of Coburg Districts.Photo: Hamish Blair

In a hard-fought battle, Oliver Aitken starred with his poise and class to make the most of his opportunities in a best on ground display.

John Lindon, Matt Landini, Justin Blackley, Spencer Aitken and Bailey Wileman were also impressive.

But it was Oliver who received the most praise from Gleeson in the game’s post-mortem.

“His year has been super. I think he flies under the radar a little bit because of Spencer,” he said.

“He’s a star. He’s found himself at home whether that’s on the wing or being able to pinch hit or run through the midfield.

“He’s fit as a fiddle. So clean above his head and below his knees. He can play anywhere.”

John Jr Hardaway of Coburg Districts.Photo: Hamish Blair

Oak Park now stands in Coburg Districts’ way of a first grand final appearance since 2017 while the Lions are chasing a first premiership since 1988.

Both sides have claimed one win apiece in their meetings this year.

Saturday’s game will be played at Craigieburn’s Highgate Reserve.

“It’s going to be a different game (compared to Sunday),” Gleeson said.

“The deck at Glenroy was basically like playing in a swamp unfortunately. It’s not Glenroy’s fault, it’s in the land of the gods. It was a really, really heavy deck.

“This week our mids will get to work on a deck that they’ll be running on top of and then get some clean use and stable footy.

: Sebastian Gatherer of Burnside Heights.Photo: Hamish Blair

“The big open space will be allow the boys to get to work.

“They’re (Oak Park) a good side, they’ve been a good side for a long time.

If we can get on top of them in clearance like we did last time and get some good ball use going forward I think we will be hard to beat.

“We’ve got our work cut out for ourselves.”

Adam Sullivan was named best afield for the Bears while Jordan Hughes finished with six goals.

After the game it was also announced Aidan Stott was standing down as Burnside Heights coach.