EFL 2019: Scoresby facing prospect of third Eastern Football League relegation in six years

Scoresby has gone from contending for a premiership to possibly fighting to avoid relegation in the space of a season after a winless start to its Eastern Football League campaign.

Scoresby coach Scott Goldsworthy. Picture: James Ross/AAP

Scoresby has gone from contending for a premiership to possibly fighting to avoid relegation in the space of a season.

The Magpies won their first final in seven years in 2018 but have started this campaign 0-6 to sit at the bottom of the Division 2 ladder.

President David Renkin estimated the club had lost between “1500 and 1600 games” worth of experience over the summer.

Dale Hehir (Rowville), Nathan Hicks (Canterbury) and Danny De Leso (Ferntree Gully) moved on, while experienced pair Scott Goldsworthy and Matt Krawczyk retired.

Matt Krawczyk (right) celebrates a goal during last year’s finals series. Picture: James Ross/AAP

Mulgrave sits a game clear of Scoresby and Renkin agreed with the suggestion the Magpies would be playing to avoid a drop to the Eastern Football League’s fourth tier next season.

“Early signs are certainly pointing that way, aren’t they?” Renkin said.

“The guys are still enthusiastic, they’re still upbeat and they’re giving it their best and they’ll continue to improve and do what they need to.

“We will get a win on the board for sure this year. We’ll just see how it pans out towards the end of the year.”

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Scoresby contended Division 1 grand finals in 2010 and 2011 but suffered consecutive relegations in 2014 and 2015.

The Magpies broke through for their first finals win in 2541 days last year but could be staring down the barrel of a third relegation in six years.

Fixtures against Mulgrave in Rounds 10 and 17 could prove telling to its fate.

Renkin said he was surprised Scoresby had gone winless through the first third of the season.

“To be perfectly honest, I went into it with no expectations on how we would or wouldn’t go but knowing it would be a tough season,” he said.

“There’s a lot of good teams in the division and it was always going to be hard work to win a game of football.

“To be 0-6, I don’t think anybody expected we’d be in that position. I thought we would have had one or two wins on the board by now and I think the players probably think the same.”

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