EFL 2018: Lilydale falls to Doncaster East in Division 2 grand final

LILYDALE coach Ben Neagle has applauded his side’s growth in 2018 after surprising the competition with an impressive Division 2 finals series.

LILYDALE coach Ben Neagle has applauded his side’s growth in 2018 after surprising the competition with an impressive finals series.

The Falcons won through to the Division 2 grand final from third place but their season ended with a 60-point defeat at the hands of Doncaster East on Saturday.

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The sides went goal-for-goal in the first half before the Lions kicked the last 10 majors of the game to record a 15.11 (101) to 6.5 (41) victory, erasing their grand final heartache from 2015 and 2017.

Ben Neagle will continue as coach in 2019. Picture: James Ross/AAP

The margin tipped into double digits for less than a minute before halftime, but Lilydale managed just one behind in the second half as Doncaster East eased to a comfortable victory.

Four goals in a 10-minute burst from the Lions midway through the third quarter blew the margin out to 31 points before Jack Sholakis made it five unanswered goals for the term just before three-quarter time.

After losing the experienced trio of Dean Carswell, Andy Preston and Grant Hill in the pre-season, Neagle said his side came into the year with few expectations.

The Falcons trailed Bayswater by 42 points midway through the third quarter in the first final before winning after the siren, backing up that performance with a 22-point victory over Upper Ferntree Gully in the preliminary final.

“To do what we did during the finals series, we’ve just got great character,” Neagle said.

“We’ve got great leaders so it all bodes well for the future.

“I think our average age is 22 but we’re just going to have to learn these hard lessons.”

Doncaster East celebrates its first flag in 11 years. Picture: James Ross/AAP

This year also marked Lilydale’s first finals win since the 2011 premiership, further evidence the club is on an upward trajectory after enduring four lean seasons in Division 1 from 2012 to 2015.

“The club has worked tirelessly and I think that just stems to on-field after that and we’re building a culture that is going to put us in good stead, not for two or three years but the next 10 years,” Neagle said.

“All the hard work has happened, now it’s time to shift forward and be competitive year after year.”

Neagle will also remain at the helm for a fourth season in 2019.

“I said to the group that it was not my call, it’s their call,” he said.

“They’ve given me every opportunity to flourish as a coach and I really owe a lot to the playing group.”

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