EFL 2018: Mooroolbark safe for another season in Division 2 after boilover against ladder leader Lilydale

Mooroolbark has shut the door on Mitcham and Mulgrave’s hopes of avoiding relegation from EFL Division 2 after an upset win over ladder leader Lilydale.

THE boilovers keep coming in the Eastern Football League.

This week, Mooroolbark shut the door on Mitcham and Mulgrave’s hopes of avoiding relegation from Division 2 after the Mustangs upset ladder-leaders Lilydale.

EFL 2018: LEAGUE RELEASES NEXT YEAR’S SALARY CAP

EFL 2018: SOUTH CROYDON STAR ON AFL RADAR

The 30-point win shored up the Mustangs’ spot in the second tier for 2019 after an underwhelming campaign, now two games and percentage clear with three rounds remaining.

Coach Heath Black said there were mixed emotions following the 11.15 (81) to 7.9 (51) win.

“Driving home from the ground, I was over the moon for the players, supporters and the committee but there was just a small amount of me was a little hollow scratching my head thinking, ‘why wasn’t that there for the major parts of the year?’,” Black said.

“Expectations were high, there was no doubt there was a lot of talk around our footy club … we definitely brought in recruits that were going to enhance the list.

“We’ve been well below expectation, there’s no doubt about that, and I have no dramas in saying that but we could at least get something out of our season and take a few scalps and making it difficult for others.”

Mooroolbark will survive the drop from Division 2 after an upset win on Saturday. Picture: Hamish Blair

The victory served as a reminder of what was expected of Mooroolbark at the start of the season, dominating the scoreboard from quarter-time.

Lilydale established a 10-point break by quarter-time but the home side controlled proceedings from that point to finish comfortable winners. Only inaccuracy saved the margin blowing out further, with the Mustangs kicking 3.11 in the final term.

“From the outside, people driving to the game or even after the game looking at their apps would have been surprised by the result,” Black said. “Our intensity and effort was there from the first bounce, which we haven’t seen that form of intensity all year over four quarters and hence the result.”

In Division 1, Noble Park put together one of its most impressive performances for the season, trouncing Montrose 24.7 (151) to 12.12 (84). Bulls champion Kyle Martin gave another remarkable performance, piling up 48 possessions, booting four goals and taking 14 marks to surely take the three Chandler Medal votes.

In Division 3, Heathmont hammered Chirnside Park by 188 points while.

In Division 4, Coldstream kept Kilsyth to three behinds in the final quarter to finish with an 18-point win and Silvan upset Forest Hill by eight points.