Pascoe Vale defeats Keilor to book maiden EDFL Premier Division grand final berth

Just making the EDFL grand final is a historic moment for Pascoe Vale but, after knocking off Keilor, the Panthers are chasing a famous premiership.

Sunny Brazier and Paul Ahern celebrate a Pascoe Vale win. Picture: Josh Chadwick

History was made on Saturday as Pascoe Vale won through to its first ever Essendon District Premier Division grand final.

With one of its finest performances in club history, the Panthers stunned reigning premier Keilor by 34 points at Piranha Park to win straight through to the decider.

The 15.13 (104) to 10.10 (70) also earns the club it’s the first A-Grade grand final since 1947 when the club was in the now defunct VFL Sub-District league.

Pascoe Vale is now in line to win its first premiership since it’s EDFL Division 1 triumph in 2011 and first A-Grade flag since 1946.

Panthers coach Leigh Tudor said it had been a huge weekend for the club with the under-18s progressing to the preliminary final, while the reserves bowed out in the semi-final.

Sunny Brazier celebrates a goal for Pascoe Vale. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“It’s really exciting, the boys are playing really well at the moment and have stood up in both finals,” Tudor said.

“It’s exciting for the club too, it’s the first (grand final) in a while, the players deserve it, the supporters deserve it.

“Two weeks ago it was the most games we’ve won in a season and we’ve won two more since then.

“Our reserves in the finals for the first time in A-Grade and our under-18s won the premiership last year and are going well again.”

A see-sawing first quarter saw Pascoe Vale take a six-point lead into quarter-time.

Tom McGuane put Keilor in front early in the second term but it would prove to be the last time as Matt Watson, Sunny Brazier and Ahmed Saad quickly put the Panthers on top and 21-point leaders at half-time.

The Blues got within eight points in the third before a quickfire Saad double restored the lead, Pascoe Vale taking a 22-point margin into three-quarter-time.

It was all Panthers in the final term as four unanswered goals pushed the advantage to 40 points before Christos Kosmas’ match-high fifth major gave Keilor some consolation.

Daniel Guccione in action for Pascoe Vale. Picture: Josh Chadwick

“We had a good game, we went in with a plan and the boys executed to a T, a full four-quarter effort,” Tudor said.

“They’re such a good ball-using team.

“When they get the ball, they’re really well coached and structured side, they’ve scored a lot of goals this year.

“If it’s in our hands it’s not in theirs but they’ll bounce back I’m sure.”

Essendon VFL-listed star Jared Eckersley was best-on-ground in the win, while Sunny Brazier, Tom Hofert, Matt Stillman and Lachlan Stredwick all impressed.

Saad and Josh Iacobaccio both finished with three goals.

For Keilor, Kosmas was a standout and Blair Wylie, Brad Xavier and Kane Barbuto stood tall.

Pascoe Vale will now have a week off to prepare for the big game.

The Panthers are weighing up whether to bring in qualifying final star Carled El Khodr from Calder Cannons duties, while Rhys Ritchie is racing the clock to return from injury.

“It’s all new but we’ll keep everything pretty normal,” Tudor said.

“We’ve got a pretty structured week as it is so we’ll keep doing what we do and add another session in on Saturday.

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“We had a couple miss out, one was at the Cannons and one was injured.

“It will be an interesting match committee next week to see if we can fit them both back in.

“It’s been an important part of the year, we’ve got a little bit more depth, so there’s going to be a couple of stiff players.”

In a rematch of last year’s grand final, Keilor will face Strathmore in the preliminary final next week after the Mores’ 23-point win over Greenvale on Sunday.