EFL 2019: East Burwood looking to break 19-year flag drought
East Burwood will have the chance to end a 19-year flag drought after claiming the first spot in the EFL Division 4 decider.
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It’s been 19 years since East Burwood saluted on grand final day.
A lot has changed since then, but the Rams will have a shot at winning their 13th EFL premiership after a 45-point win over Coldstream on Saturday.
East Burwood booked the first place in the Division 4 decider courtesy of a 14.17 (101) to 8.8 (56) triumph in the second semi-final at Central Reserve.
Adrian Gileno was best afield with seven goals.
The Rams claimed the 2000 Division 1 premiership to win back-to-back flags when Alan Richardson was mentor, but the former powerhouse suffered four relegations in six years between 2013 and 2018.
It was demoted to the bottom tier last year as part of the competition restructure.
East Burwood coach Stuart Wynd, who played in the 1999 and 2000 premiership wins, said a Division 4 flag would be just as significant.
“I don’t think it matters what division you are playing in,” Wynd said.
“You still do the same work, you start training in November and you have a really close group of players.
“While the higher divisions get a little bit more attention, it’s going to be just as special for these guys as it was to us winning first division grand final.
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“I won a grand final in second division at Knox and that was just as special as the East Burwood ones in first division.”
East Burwood stumbled at the penultimate hurdle last year and will carry the tag of favourites into the September 8 decider at Scoresby Recreation Reserve.
The club has been labelled as the premiership frontrunner since the start of the year.
Wynd said expectations would not burden his side.
“I think everyone has been talking us up all year,” he said.
“I don’t think anything changes there, it’s just one game we’ve got to win.”
Wynd said the grand final berth was significant for the band of supporters that had stood beside the club through a difficult period.
“It’s exciting, not just for the players but mostly the supporters that have been around the club for so long,” he said.
“They haven’t seen anything like this for a fair while.
“We obviously just fell short last year and we made mention of that before the game that we fell short in the preliminary final and this was our chance to get another opportunity at it.”
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