EFL 2018: Doncaster East wins through to its third Eastern Football League grand final in four years
DONCASTER East won through to its third Eastern Football League grand final in four years after a 20-point semi-final win over Upper Ferntree Gully.
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THERE was little time for celebration.
The time for popping corks will hopefully be reserved for about 5pm on September 15 after Doncaster East progressed to its third Eastern Football League decider in four years.
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The Lions have a 72 per cent winning record in the past four years but no silverware to show for their efforts, left to lament two defeats on the last day of the season in 2015 and 2017.
But Doncaster East will be hoping to shake its bridesmaid tag in this year’s grand final after earning direct passage to the decider following a 20-point win over Upper Ferntree Gully in Saturday’s semi-final.
Doncaster East coach Steve Buckle said there was a “steely resolve” in his group to secure the club’s third EFL premiership and first since 2007.
“Even after the game on Saturday, normally you’d celebrate, not so much excessively, but you’d have a really big celebration because you’ve made a grand final but the boys are still really focused,” Buckle said.
“We went straight down the road to the pools and did a recovery session and most of them were home in bed by 9.30pm.
“We don’t want to let this one slip, we know we’ve got a really good opportunity, probably more so than any other year, so I think the boys really don’t want to let this one go.”
After keeping the Kings to just two goals with the breeze in the first term, Doncaster East capitalised on the advantage in the second quarter.
The Lions kicked five unanswered goals and held Upper Gully scoreless to set up a 28-point halftime lead.
“It took us a while to take advantage of it in the second but once we did we started getting a few (goals) on, we started getting a bit more outside run on them,” Buckle said.
“They wanted to play the game in close and that was really evident because they are a really good stoppage team but once we were able to clear that space, our outside run really took control in that second and third quarters.”
Doncaster East will be at full strength for the grand final, with James Locke and James Appleby returning at the weekend.
Classy Port Melbourne-listed defender Dillon Viojo-Rainbow will also be available.
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