EFL 2018: Lilydale deals Wantirna South’s Division 2 finals hopes a blow after scoring a 58-point win

WANTIRNA South is in danger of missing finals for a second consecutive year after Lilydale consolidated its spot at the top of the Division 2 ladder with a 58-point win.

Lachlan Koger flies for a mark. Picture: Hamish Blair

LILYDALE consolidated its place at the top of the Division 2 ladder thanks to a 58-point win over Wantirna South, but its grip on a finals double chance is far from set.

The Falcons responded from their surprise Round 13 loss against Park Orchards with a complete four-quarter showing at Lilydale Sports Oval, scoring a 16.16 (112) to 7.12 (54) victory to deal Wantirna South’s finals hopes a fresh blow.

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Lilydale finished with 13 goalkickers — Ryan McNay, Callum Morison and Lachlan Koger bagging two each — to help build on its advantage at every change, leaving the Devils a game outside the top four and in danger of missing finals for a second consecutive year.

Co-captains Lachie Wilson and Brad Lowe were instrumental in the win, guiding the Falcons to their 12th win of the season.

Brad Lowe gets a kick away. Picture: Hamish Blair

“For us it was probably just the little things that we have let slip over the past fortnight, even the Mitcham game (in Round 12) there was some signs in that game that we weren’t quite working as hard as we’d like to,” coach Ben Neagle said.

“It was just about getting back to really working hard and really communicating with each other.”

Lilydale has developed a spread of forward options in 2018 — Koger sits second on the leading goalkickers table with 39 majors, while Corey Berntsen, Wilson, Callum Morison and Tori Klaas-Henry have each kicked more than 10 goals for the year.

The Falcons have sat inside the top two for all bar one week of the season and are a game clear at the top of the table, but will have to tackle fellow flag fancies Upper Ferntree Gully and Doncaster East in the run home.

Neagle said those two fixtures could determine if his side secures a finals double chance.

“It probably does define where we sit, if you can win one or both of those two … you just about cement a top-two spot,” he said.

“We know we have to be at our best to beat them and hopefully we can bring that in the last month of footy and it would be a fantastic result for our group if we can sew up a double chance.”

The Falcons are also near full strength, with Brandon Droessler (ankle) and Daniel Baldwin (calf) to return after this weekend’s bye.