EFL 2019: Blackburn prevails in epic Eastern Football League Anzac Day clash against South Croydon

Blackburn has enjoyed its best start to an Eastern Football League season in nearly a decade after prevailing in an Anzac Day epic against South Croydon.

Matthew Day flies above the pack. Picture: Davis Harrigan

They produced an extra-time thriller in last year’s preliminary final and Blackburn and South Croydon delivered an Anzac Day epic to add to their recent catalogue of classics.

Blackburn kicked the last two goals of the game at Cheong Park to record a nailbiting 14-point win.

The second half became an absorbing arm wrestle before goals from Nick Gray and Anthony Fagan in the final minutes sealed the 13.14 (92) to 12.6 (78) result.

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It moved the Burners to a 3-0 start in their Premier division campaign, while South Croydon appears a long-shot to make Eastern Football League finals at 0-3.

.@Blackburn_FC goes 3-0 after edging South Croydon by 14 points in an @footyefl classic on Anzac Day. pic.twitter.com/phLTZMaxyB

— Toby Prime (@T_Prime2) April 25, 2019

@Blackburn_FC best start to a @footyefl season since 2011 https://t.co/KpyFZuOJrr

— Noel (@statsbench) April 25, 2019

The Bulldogs had an opening halfway through the last quarter when Blackburn’s Luke Conca missed a straightforward chance in the goalsquare.

Anthony Fagan is brought to ground. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Conca burst from a stoppage and attempted to kick the ball into the next suburb, only to miss the most simple of opportunities just metres out.

It would have put Blackburn seven points up, only for the field umpire to determine it was a behind.

But the Burners steadied to deal another blow to South Croydon’s season.

It was the first time Blackburn has prevailed over the Bulldogs since the corresponding round in 2016.

Burners coach Brendan Allen said it was a “significant hurdle” for his side to overcome the grand finalists of the past two years.

“Pretty significant in that (it was a) six-day break, they got a good start on us and we just arm wrestled it back, grind and grind and grind,” Allen said.

“Three and zip sets us up, anyone would take that at the start of the season and we haven’t beaten them in three years so it’s a really significant hurdle for us as a playing group.”

Tyler Faulkner hunts the ball in Blackburn’s win. Picture: Davis Harrigan

South Croydon had kicked six of the first seven goals to jump to a 28-point lead before quarter-time.

Max King was influential with three first-quarter goals, but late replies from Blackburn spearhead Jake Hammond deep in time-on shaved the margin to 16 points at the first break.

A 25m penalty gifted Hammond his third late in the second quarter, putting the Burners in front for the first time.

But South Croydon quickly grabbed back the lead when King kicked his fourth with the last kick of the term to give the Bulldogs a two-point advantage at the long break.

From there the contest developed into an early contender for the game of the season.

Two of their previous three encounters have been decided by less than a goal and Thursday’s clash appeared it would be taking a similar course.

Max King celebrates one of his three goals in the first term. Picture: Davis Harrigan

There were multiple lead changes in the second half and scores were level at the final break but Blackburn ultimately won the key moments.

Oakleigh Chargers product Matthew Day was the most dangerous forward after halftime with three second-half goals, ruckman Lachlan Howe again showed why he’s proving to be one of the recruits of the season and Gray, Xavier Murphy and Ben Daniher were influential around the ball.

Pat Rosier put South Croydon six points up early in the last term but it proved to be the Bulldogs’ only goal of the final quarter.

Blackburn meets Vermont on May 4 where it could announce itself as a legitimate premiership contender.

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