EFL 2019: Blackburn to meet Vermont in Premier Division grand final
Blackburn is one win away from its first EFL top flight premiership, but will have to overcome the odds if it is to salute in the Premier Division grand final.
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Blackburn has hardly seen a day like it.
The Burners are through to their first EFL top flight grand final in 44 years after eliminating Balwyn from the Premier Division flag race.
The 35-point win reversed the qualifying final result from two weeks ago, which put Blackburn on the brink of a straight-sets exit.
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Instead the Burners will meet Vermont in the grand final this weekend.
They will be hunting their first top-tier premiership but will go in as outsiders as the Eagles look to complete back-to-back flags.
Here it is @Blackburn_FC supporters off to the big dance @footyefl pic.twitter.com/wnncGE9hT7
— Aaron Hurle (@hurler75) September 14, 2019
Supporters were brought to tears in the Blackburn rooms as players linked up to sing the song.
“It was obviously one of euphoria but it was interesting, especially some of the older supporters, it brought a bit of a tear to the eye for a few of them,” Blackburn coach Brendan Allen said.
“Blackburn has never won a Premier flag ever.
“There was a few guys with tears and I was walking out of the rooms getting thank yous.
“I had to tell them, ‘We’ve still got one more to go’.
“The way the song was sung, I’ve never heard that before. You could’ve heard that in my suburb of Kew East from Bayswater the way it was sung.”
Blackburn kicked eight of the opening nine goals but had to withstand a Balwyn comeback.
The Burners jumped out to a 44-point lead by midway through the second quarter before Balwyn shaved the deficit to 16 points at the final break.
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But Allen said the pain of consecutive preliminary final defeats, including an extra-time loss last year, inspired his side to a 16.13 (109) to 10.14 (74) win.
“We were under fatigue a fair bit but you could just see the steel in all the boys’ eyes,” he said.
“I just knew they were going to get it done … the grit and determination, you could just see it in every players’ face.
“They were ready to make sure we turn up next week.”
Liam Patterson was praised for limiting the influence of dangerous forward Charlie Haley, while Julian Soccio and Jake Hammond each kicked four goals.
Haley kicked three goals but was well held by Patterson.
“He was outstanding on Charlie Haley,” Allen said.
“He’s obviously the best small forward and if not one of the best forwards in our competition.
“Charlie kicked a few goals but for the most part Liam held him really well.
“If Liam hadn’t have been on his game, it could have been seven or eight goals for Charlie.”
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