EFL 2022: Donvale’s Nick Murphy kicks winning point to sink Warrandyte

Donvale came from the clouds to steal a heart-stopping win and surge into second spot in the EFL’s Division 3 on Saturday.

DONVALE has surged into second spot on the ladder following a come-from-behind upset at the death.

The Magpies rallied from 38 points down at half-time to edge top-two outfit Warrandyte in the final minute of the Eastern league Division 3 clash on Saturday, 10.9 (69) to 11.2 (68).

And it was gun spearhead Nick Murphy with the winner – kicking a behind courtesy of a late grab to steal the victory after his side trailed by 12 points at the 19-minute-mark.

“He claims it (the behind) was designed that way so it wouldn’t go back to the centre!” Donvale coach Kevin Collins quipped of Murphy’s match-winner.

Donvale’s Nick Murphy is no stranger to standing up in big games. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Collins said a lift in workrate around the ball helped shift momentum in the second half, cutting the margin to just 14 points at three-quarter time to set the scene for a heart-stopping final term.

“We came out and stumbled badly, we were terrible,” Collins said of the first half.

“Warrandyte were fantastic and beat us at contested ball, and got us on the outside.

“We just had to increase our workrate … Ben Currie kicked a goal after the siren at three-quarter time and it was just a spirit-lifter, a really important goal.”

Murphy finished with three goals while James Rausa turned on a best-on-ground display through the midfield, as Warrandyte’s Tommy Tout booted five majors and midfielder Tom Grimes finished the visitors’ best.

“Rausa’s workrate yesterday was unbelievable – as a captain he’s inspiring and he just lifts everyone else to another level,” Collins said.

The match also marked the return of former junior Ben Lyall after a long lay-off following two ACL injuries and a severe car accident.

“For him to come out and play a great game of footy, that inspires the group as well,” Collins said.

The result marks three wins in a row for Donvale while the Bloods have slipped to third on the table after dropping two of their past three matches.

Both hold a 7-4 record, with Donvale’s percentage (123.92) thrusting it ahead of Warrandyte (106.72).

“It was an eight-point game for each club, there’s no doubt about it,” Collins said.

“We’ve played a lot of finals-type matches, we’ve got a young list and it’s just gold – our younger players are being exposed to pressure situations and so far we’ve been able to tick the boxes.

“We’ve been lucky enough to have three or four games where it has been a finals atmosphere, everything’s been on the line and we’ve rallied.”

Donvale is away to Fairpark in Round 13 while Warrandyte hosts a resurgent Ferntree Gully.