EDFL scores: East Keilor conquers rival flag contender West Coburg

Cougars coach Pat Christofi declared his side was well below its best after it scored a come-from-behind EDFL Division 1 win on Saturday.

Victor Micallef celebrates a goal with teammates on Saturday. Picture: Hamish Blair

It could prove a grand final preview.

At the very least, most pundits expect the pair to meet in this year’s Essendon District Football League Division 1 finals series.

Ladder-leader and flag favourite East Keilor scored a come-from-behind seven-point victory in an engrossing fixture against West Coburg on Saturday.

The rusty Cougars were outplayed for three quarters, trailing by 21 points at the first break, 18 at half-time and 12 at three-quarter-time.

But East Keilor booted five goals to two in the final half-hour to post a 14.13 (97) to 13.12 (90) triumph and improve its record to 7-1.

But while recognising the Burgers proved a formidable opponent for his star-studded outfit, victorious coach Pat Christofi said his side was well short of its best following an enforced layoff because of the coronavirus pandemic.

East Keilor’s Charles Van Der Byl and West Coburg’s Marco Serruto contest the footy. Picture: Hamish Blair

“We showed a lot to character … considering we had 80 per cent of our players playing well below their capabilities,” Christofi said.

“We only had five blokes towing the line against West Coburg, and I think West Coburg were playing good football.

“We were playing well below our standard and I think the break hurt us, along with everyone else. It really showed with us. We had so many blokes who were just off and weren’t playing a good brand of footy.

“To find a way and still be able to win against a very good West Coburg, who I think were playing out of their skin, was a positive sign for us that when we get 50 or 60 per cent of our crew up and running, we’re going to be unstoppable.

“I can’t praise the boys enough for the way they won and stuck to it. We had our backs up against the wall for three quarters.”

Gun big man Chris Stewart and Hutchison medallist Victor Micallef were the two most influential performers for the winners.

East Keilor star Victor Micallef. Picture: Hamish Blair

Joe Palazzolo ably supported Micallef in the midfield, Tim Bongetti bagged three majors and ex-AFL star Heath Shaw provided a cool head at the defensive end of the ground.

“He (Micallef) is definitely playing the best footy he’s played for EK at this point, but that’s accommodated and looked after by a guy called Chris Stewart, who is putting him in that position to play that brand of footy,” Christofi said.

“They’re complementing each other very well, along with Joe.”

West Coburg’s Daniel Archer takes possession. Picture: Hamish Blair

But Christofi pointed to the fact that the competition’s most prolific forward Dion Hill (35 goals in 2021) and Josh Grabowski (25 goals) only contributed one major apiece.

At the other end, Lynden Dunn bagged four goals after starting on Shaw in a mouth-watering match-up.

Christofi said Dunn benefited from the work of West Coburg’s midfielders, who dictated terms for most of the afternoon.

“I think West Coburg’s a great outfit and they’re going to be there at the end with us, but they had the opportunity and didn’t make the most of it,” he said.

“They should have had us and they didn’t, so positive signs for EK.”

The Cougars will next face Rupertswood away, while the third-placed Burgers will host Airport West.