EFL 2019: Vermont books fourth consecutive grand final ticket
Vermont is through to its fourth consecutive EFL grand final, but can anyone stop the Eagles from winning back-to-back flags?
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Is Vermont unstoppable?
Maybe, but it’s going to take a mighty effort to prevent the Eagles from winning back-to-back flags.
The reigning premiers booked the first place in the Premier Division grand final after a one-sided second half against Balwyn on Saturday.
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Vermont led by just nine points at the main break but held the Tigers to two scoring shots in the second half to walk away with a 39-point win at Bayswater Oval.
“Our second halves have been really strong all year, especially our third quarters,” captain Lachie Johns said.
The 10.14 (74) to 5.5 (35) scoreline showed why Harmit Singh’s side will be tough to beat in the decider.
It will be the Eagles’ fourth straight grand final appearance as they shoot for consecutive flags for the first time since the hat-trick between 2005 and 2007.
Johns said the shock defeat in the 2017 decider against South Croydon continued to serve as a reminder to not take its superior home-and-away form for granted.
“We learnt two years ago that, especially in finals, anything can happen,” he said.
“Sometimes things don’t go your way and you’re always beatable. I definitely wouldn’t say (we’re) unstoppable and I guess that’s what keeps us motivated and keeps us on track.
“We definitely have a good team and we understand that but we know we’ve got to do everything right to get the job done.”
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Vermont has won 27 of its past 28 games and its average winning margin in that period is 54 points.
Its only defeat in that time was a single-figure loss against Rowville in Round 6 when it had seven more scoring shots.
The Eagles boast winners on every line and appear a better team than the one that won last year’s premiership.
They added former junior Mitch Honeychurch fresh off his five-year AFL stint with the Western Bulldogs and league greats Ryan Mullett and Robbie Ross returned to the club in last year’s recruiting drive.
The three decorated recruits have been quality additions and the observation is only complacency will stop the EFL powerhouse from winning its 21st premiership.
Johns said the group remained hungry for success.
“You’re always bringing in players that didn’t experience winning it last year and players that have been around the club for a long time, like Ryan Mullett and these sort of guys that have come back and have done it time and time again,” he said.
“You feed off them and find out what they did to keep being motivated and managing to get up year after year.
“Blokes like Rory Lehmann, who missed out on the flag last year, you want to do it for those guys. That keeps you going as well.”
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