EDFL scores: Avondale Heights end Keilor’s 23-game winning run
Avondale Heights inflicted their EDFL rival’s first defeat since 2018, with a debutant bagging three goals in a thrilling contest.
Essendon
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The Essendon District Football League’s longest winning run is over.
Avondale Heights on Saturday inflicted Keilor’s first defeat since the 2018 grand final, prevailing by four points in a gripping Premier Division contest.
Caleb McPherson nailed the match-winning major with about 15 seconds remaining to secure a memorable 12.10 (82) to 12.6 (78) victory at Canning Reserve.
The visitors were missing stars Nick O’Kearney, Dean Galea, David Isbister and Todd Stevenson, but the Heights deserve plaudits for taking down the reigning premier for the first time since June 2017 and ending a 23-game winning streak.
“We’ve been playing pretty good footy, but our errors have been killing us, just in crucial periods,” Avondale Heights coach Paddy Byrne said.
“(Saturday) was the first game we’ve played that was reasonably error free.
“I was pretty happy with the way they finished it off to be honest.
“It just reinforces what you’re trying to implement.
“To get them to put it together for four quarters was pretty pleasing, and it could have gone either way in the end, but a couple of the mids were pretty cool with a couple of crucial shots late.”
The Heights led at every change – albeit by small margins – and Byrne said his side’s ability to gain the ascendancy in the middle of the ground proved decisive.
“We got on top of them around the stoppages,” he said.
“That was probably the key to it. I knew before we went in that we had to beat them on the inside and not let them out too much because they love to run and gun, especially from their back half.”
Jackson Robb was best afield for the winners through the midfield, while ruckman Tom Russell and Josiah Garisto also impressed.
Debutant Jalen Gill was also a standout in his senior debut, bagging a game-high three majors.
Gill was a member of Avondale Heights’ under-19 side two years ago, starring at the other end of the ground.
“He’s a good contested mark,” Byrne said.
“He was pretty out of nick when he got back for this pre-season, so he’s done a lot of hard work to get to this level.
“He’s probably more been a key defender, but he’s a pretty good contested mark, so when Sean Bolger went out … he got the opportunity and made the most of it.”
Skipper Kane Barbuto, Brett Stillman and Patrick Veszpremi were Keilor’s best.
Byrne said he believed the Premier Division had become more even, with Maribyrnong Park also recording an upset win over Aberfeldie in Round 4.
The Heights, who sit in seventh spot with a 2-2 record, will next meet winless Craigieburn away from home on Saturday.
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