Beaconsfield thrashes Mooroolbark to cement place in EFNL Division 1 top-five

Preliminary finalist last year, Beaconsfield is eyeing another deep finals run and hopes a big win over Mooroolbark can spark a late-season charge

Kobe Shipp in action for Beaconsfield. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Beaconsfield caught fire at the end of 2024 and charged to a preliminary final from fifth.

The Eagles are eyeing another deep finals run in 2025 and hope Saturday’s 83-point demolition of Mooroolbark can provide the spark.

The 16.14 (110) to 4.3 (27) win at Holm Park was a critical percentage boost amid a log-jam on the EFNL Division 1 ladder.

Boronia in third and North Ringwood in sixth are separated by just four points, with the Eagles (fourth), Montrose (fifth) and Saints all locked on seven wins.

It was a critical response after a tough loss to Montrose the week before.

Jack Docherty in action for Beaconsfield. Picture: Josh Chadwick

Beaconsfield coach Mick Fogarty said wins were the only thing on the club’s mind in the run home.

“Considering the week before against Montrose, where we had a bad performance, the boys responded in an emphatic way,” Fogarty said.

“It was a really good four-quarter performance, something we’ve needed to get back to.

“It’s close, it’s tight, but our intention is just to win games and everything will look after itself.

“Percentage will be critical but we just need to win.

“There’s three games and two of them are at home, its critical to where we finish, its simplist to say but we need to be more consistent.”

The home team started strongly, jumping out to a 15-point lead at quarter-time.

A four-goal-to-one burst in the second broke the game open and gave Beaconsfield a 34-point lead at half-time.

However, it was arguably the third term which was the most impressive.

The Eagles piled on six goals to nil – keeping the visitors scoreless – to put an early end to the contest.

“Mooroolbark had been in good form and it was going to be a tough game, in tough conditions,” Fogarty said.

“It was fairly windy down to one end, to a pocket, and the third quarter – that’s what I’m talking about when it comes to consistent between quarters.

“We had some really good moments that allowed us to hit the scoreboard and our pressure rating was really high.”

Devon Smith was named best-on-ground in the win for his role on Mooroolbark star Kane Noonan.

Ethan Winterton, Jack Docherty, Ethan Harris, Joshua Mounter and ex-AFL star Jake Aarts also impressed.

Charlie Muley bagged a game-high five goals to almost double his season tally.

“Dev had a really tough assignment on Kane Noonan, who we rate very highly,” Fogarty said.

“I said to Dev we need you to curtail (Noonan’s) influence and, while he went forward and kicked a couple in the last quarter, I though he was outstanding on him.”

For Mooroolbark, Jonathon Egan was best afield with Noonan and Connor Riley also standing tall on a tough day.

The Eagles host last-placed Norwood on Saturday before clashes with Bayswater and Park Orchards to finish.

Last year, the club finished fifth before winning two finals and pushing Park Orchards to eight points in the preliminary final.

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Fogarty said his players couldn’t afford to look too far ahead.

“We’ve got a strong desire to finish the season well and, where that takes us, we won’t find out until the last round,” he said.

“From third down to sixth is tight, so it’s imperative we remain focused on what we need to do.”

Elsewhere in Division 1, Montrose thrashed Norwood by 90 points, South Belgrave retained top spot with a 28-point win over third-placed Boronia, staying ahead of Park Orchards on percentage after the Sharks’ 27-point win over North Ringwood.