EFL: East Burwood snaps its 23-game losing streak with a 17-point win over Coldstream

EAST Burwood’s last win came 18 months ago but the Rams ended their 23-game losing streak in style with a 17-point victory over Coldstream.

Jarrad Stafford competes in the ruck. Picture: Paul Loughnan

EAST Burwood has delivered on its pre-season optimism to snap its 23-game losing streak, recording a 17-point win over Coldstream on Saturday.

It was the Rams’ first victory since Round 13 in 2016 when they were in Division 2.

East Burwood had won just seven of its past 90 games, with the former Eastern Football League powerhouse dropping from Division 1 since the end of 2013.

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But under the guidance of club great and first-year coach Stuart Wynd, the Rams could be one of the teams to beat in Division 4 this year after signing a host of recruits and former players returning to the club.

“We’ve still got a lot of work to do, it was a tough struggle on Saturday but the more games we win the more confidence we get from it,” Wynd said.

“It was really important we got over the line yesterday, I think the club has been going so poorly over the last few years, it was just important we started the season well and created a bit of excitement around the place.”

East Burwood led throughout but never extended the margin beyond three goals before finishing with a 13.9 (87) to 10.10 (70) victory.

Junior product Adrian Gileno, one of the returning players after stints at Vermont, Mooroolbark, Rye and Hawthorn Amateurs in the past six years, starred up forward with eight goals in a best-on-ground performance.

“He was a beauty on Saturday, he looked really dangerous every time he went near the ball and in the end he was probably the difference I think,” Wynd said.

“Would love to get a couple of other avenues to goal but it’s pretty handy when you have someone like that who is a natural goalkicker and can hit the scoreboard.”

Recruits Andre Angemi and Scott Davis, both among the list of Knox players to join East Burwood over the summer, and former Rams Jack Murphy and Jason Kennedy were also among the best.

Wynd said a number of club stalwarts and former players had returned to East Burwood, filled with optimism the Rams’ fortunes could be turning.

“From what people were telling me they haven’t seen a crowd that big for probably five or six years, in the rooms after the game it was chock-full of old faces and ex-teammates of mine,” he said.

“Just to see all the older people that have been hanging around the club for so many years with a smile on their face, it was really rewarding.”