EFL 2019: Lilydale the only Division 1 team yet to taste defeat in Eastern Football League

Lilydale reinforced its status as one of the teams to beat in Division 1 this year after inflicting Wantirna South’s first defeat of the season.

Jordan Depace gets the ball on his boot. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Lilydale reinforced its status as one of the teams to beat in Division 1 this year after inflicting Wantirna South’s first defeat of the season on Saturday.

The Falcons withstood a challenge from the Devils in the third term at the Lilydale Sports Oval to record a 26-point win in the top-of-the-table clash.

Lilydale kicked four goals to one in the last quarter, with the assistance of the breeze, to come away with a 10.11 (71) to 7.3 (45) victory.

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The Falcons remain the only unbeaten team in the second tier with a 4-0 record, sitting a game clear at the top of the ladder.

Lilydale coach Ben Neagle said his side’s clearance work in the final term was pivotal after a seesawing contest.

“We led for a fair part of the day in terms of scoreboard, but momentum shifted throughout the day,” Neagle said.

“It was pretty even through the midfield … stoppage and clearances were pretty even — I think we might have just got them but it was pretty minimal.

“A standout for us was we were a bit cleaner around the clearances, which helped at times.

“We had a lot of inside 50s but just didn’t convert and on the other hand they were really efficient going inside forward 50 and really accurate in front of goal.”

Wantirna South shaved an 18-point halftime margin to under a kick at three-quarter-time before Lilydale responded when challenged.

“A few things we’ve been working on over the past couple of weeks sort of clicked in the second and last quarters for us,” Neagle said.

“They played fantastic in the third quarter to get back and make it a real ball-game at three-quarter time.

“I just thought if we got back to what we were doing in the second quarter that we could get the win on the board.”

Nick Del Biondo flies for the ball. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Defender Mitchell De Franceschi again continued his career-best season, named among Lilydale’s best players for a fourth consecutive week.

“He’s just showing raw consistency. He’s not getting in and out of games or he’s not having a good one then an average one,” Neagle said.

“He’s been a beauty for a couple of years to be honest. We’ve been super excited to what he can bring us.

“He’s just been terrific, he’s got a lot of confidence, he’s not only shutting down his direct opponent but then he is rebounding for us and he creates a lot of flow for us off halfback.”

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