EFL 2019: South Belgrave advances to Division 3 grand final

South Belgrave has reason to be optimistic after a 107-point thrashing over Ferntree Gully in the semi-final, declaring it will be “hard to beat” in the EFL Division 3 grand final.

Leigh Odermatt kicks one of his six goals. Picture: Davis Harrigan

South Belgrave is one win away from completing a perfect season.

The Saints breezed through Saturday’s second semi-final against Ferntree Gully, marching through to the Division 3 grand final with a 107-point thumping.

South Belgrave has bossed its way through the season and the 22.12 (144) to 5.7 (37) win over the Eagles was no different.

Its average winning margin this year has been 96 points and it has had eight triple-figure wins.

Sam Brown has a shot on goal. Picture: Davis Harrigan

When asked if South Belgrave was unstoppable, coach Luke Galliott said: “We’re going to be hard to beat. We can’t hide that.

“We’ve got a really good group, we’re injury-free and the guys are just playing exactly how we want to play.”

But Galliott said he was surprised by the margins.

“We knew we’d be competitive but we didn’t expect this,” he said.

“The guys we’ve got in — Mike (Smith) and Tim (Riseley) — they’re getting older … but all the guys that have come across have respected the division.

“They haven’t come down and said, ‘We’re going to get an easy kick’. They train just as hard as they ever have and get themselves playing as good as they could.

“We’re going better than I thought we would.”

South Belgrave coach Luke Galliott. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Ferntree Gully led by one point at quarter-time but South Belgrave kicked 20 goals to three in the final three periods.

Galliott said he would not need to guard against complacency.

“We’ve played well every week, we haven’t had a bad quarter all year so that’s not going to happen,” he said.

“It will just be effort on the day, that’s the only thing that can beat us.”

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Galliott forecast there could be changes made for the September 7 decider at Jubilee Park.

The Saints’ reserves only dropped one game in the home-and-away rounds, ensuring competition is high for places in the senior side.

“Guys are still fighting tooth and nail for spots,” he said.

“We didn’t make a decision on our 22nd (player) until Friday because it was that tight.

“There’s not 10 guys stiff, there’s probably two or three so they’re still fighting.”

Riccardo Daraio looks for options. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Jake Kidd, Brad Carroll and Brad Condor will each be in contention to return.

“Between myself and the assistants, there’ll be plenty going on,” Galliott said.

“There’ll definitely be some debate that will continue on.

“We’ve played two rucks for most the year with Brad Condor and Ben Haddock.

“Ben’s probably our No. 1 (ruckman) and on Sunday we used Jay Robertson, who has been playing forward for the majority. We liked how that looked but depending on the opposition we might change it.”

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