EFL 2019: Ferntree Gully outlasts Donvale to score 28-point win in the Eastern Football League

Donvale twin towers Nick Murphy and Jack Purcell were well held by Ferntree Gully as the Eagles underlined their finals credentials with a 28-point win.

Nick Knoops flies for the ball. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Donvale twin towers Nick Murphy and Jack Purcell have given opposition defenders sleepless nights in the opening month of the season.

But the star pair were well held on Saturday as Ferntree Gully improved its record to 3-1 in Division 3 after a 28-point win at Donvale Reserve.

Murphy (three) and Purcell (two) kicked just five goals between them as the Eagles finished with a 12.9 (81) to 8.5 (53) win.

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Defenders Luke Allison and Nick Knoops were both named in Ferntree Gully’s best players for their efforts in shutting down the most damaging duo in the fourth tier.

“We matched up pretty well on them but the key I think was the pressure that came from up the ground and across our half-forward line,” Ferntree Gully coach Peter Farrell said.

“The two boys (Allison and Knoops) that played on them played their role and the rest of the group definitely assisted with the pressure around the contest.”

Little separated the sides throughout the day until Ferntree Gully kicked five goals to one in the final term to score a 28-point win.

“Our fitness is good, we’re playing good footy but I’m not sure that reflected on the scoreboard,” Farrell said.

“It was tight — we’d kick a couple and then let them kick a couple — but we had to grind it out and eventually we got on top of them and ran out the game.”

Ferntree Gully coach Peter Farrell. Picture: Stuart Milligan

A swag of one-point players returned to Ferntree Gully over the summer as the Eagles hunted their first Eastern Football League finals appearance since the 2016 Division 4 flag.

Jess Moore (Bayswater), 2017 Division 4 best and fairest winner Sean Currey (Kilsyth), multiple club best and fairest winner Danny De Ieso (Scoresby), Hayden Lovat (Kilsyth) and Michael Russo (Kilsyth) were among the additions.

Farrell said his side’s start to the season had matched pre-season expectations.

“We had a really good pre-season and we’ve improved our list,” he said.

“The guys we’ve got to the club are mostly past players after six or seven years away.

“I suppose they bring with them leadership and experience at a higher level of footy, which is always a good thing to come back and share.”

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