EFL 2019: Blackburn edges past Doncaster in Premier Division clash

Blackburn is a game clear in the top three and could finish with its best home-and-away finish in eight years after scraping past Doncaster for the second time this season.

Blackburn coach Brendan Allen. Picture: Davis Harrigan

When Blackburn counts up its wins and losses at season’s end, it could count itself fortunate to have twice pipped a struggling Doncaster.

And they could be a valuable eight premiership points that give the Burners an EFL Premier Division top-three berth.

Blackburn scraped past the Sharks by six points in Round 5 and was made to work for its 10th win of the season on Saturday.

As it did when they first met this year, Doncaster challenged the Burners but fell to a narrow defeat.

In a scrappy contest, the home side prevailed 9.14 (68) to 9.9 (63) at Morton Park.

It moved the Burners a game clear inside the top three after Rowville’s 63-point defeat against Norwood.

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Blackburn last finished with the finals double chance in 2011 when it bowed out in the preliminary final.

Despite the close scoreline, Blackburn coach Brendan Allen said he was confident his team would prevail.

“It always felt like we were going to get across the line,” Allen said.

“It was a weird one and they still had some handy players running around out there. They brought a bit of mongrel, there was a bit of unsociable football going on.

“They tried to rattle us a little bit with that but the boys stood up and got on with the job.”

SANFL premiership defender Michael Chippendale, who played in Norwood’s 2014 premiership, kicked two goals to be Blackburn’s best player.

It was Chippendale’s third EFL game this year, qualifying him for finals.

He is also on Collingwood’s VFL list but has only played four games with the Magpies this year due to injury.

“He has played centre-half back in the SANFL so he’s pretty adaptable,” Allen said.

“He’s got that body that you can throw anywhere. At a pinch you can through him in the midfield for that bit of grunt to get the ball out.

“He’s a bit like Jake (Hammond), he just throws himself at everything. A real competitor.”

Nick Gray was again in Blackburn’s best players.

Gray arrived at the Burners last year after a 69-game VFL career at Collingwood.

“This time last year he was just starting to work out how to play in this competition and obviously he has learnt that now,” Allen said.

“Beside the stats sheet every week you can put at least half a dozen clearances and 20 to 30 possessions.

“He’s just super consistent … he’s been our best midfielder by a mile.”

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