EFL 2022: Fairpark defeats Whitehorse as ‘pulse’ beats for Division 3 survival

A big man turned it on with a menacing display as Fairpark toppled a Division 3 rival in its bid to avoid relegation.

FAIRPARK remains a chance to avoid the drop at season’s end following its 13-point victory over the Whitehorse Pioneers on Saturday.

The Lions came from five points down at three-quarter time to topple the visitors in a result which draws the pair level on points, alongside Scoresby.

Fairpark sits eighth of Division 3’s nine sides with a 4-10 record, underneath Scoresby and Whitehorse on percentage with two sides to be relegated at the end of the campaign.

The Magpies and Pioneers hold a game in hand, owing to last week’s bye.

“It makes for an interesting last three rounds for the competition,” Fairpark senior coach Sean Stanton said.

“Our division’s obviously quite open at the moment and there’s essentially five teams trying to avoid relegation. There’s a pulse and it gives us an opportunity.”

Stanton’s men rallied from 10 points down early in the final term before kicking the next four to snare the victory.

Ruckman Kyle Hird led the charge with a best afield display in his 100th match, while Ben Gilling kicked a game-equal four alongside Ben Dadswell and Whitehorse’s Daniel Horvat.

Kyle Hird turned it on in his 100th match for the club on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“We were able to get on a bit of a run … it was a relief and it was really pleasing we were able to rally,” Stanton said.

“We try and celebrate milestone games and it’s a terrific achievement – he’s (Hird’s) been loyal to the footy club and he was outstanding on the weekend.

“I’d hate to imagine how many possessions he had – he gave us first-use around the ground but he really is that ruckman that plays as another midfielder.

“He’s a credit to himself and I’d imagine he would’ve had every bit of 30 touches and probably took 10 to 12 marks and in the last three or four minutes probably took three or four telling marks.”

Fairpark senior coach Sean Stanton. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Fairpark has the bye this weekend before meeting Warrandyte (fourth) and Scoresby to round out the season.

The coach believes the break has come at a good time as his side readies itself for a final push to avoid the drop.

“There’s a handful of players that would certainly benefit from the week off but on the other hand it was good to play well on Saturday … we’d love to roll straight into this week,” Stanton said.

“But the week off’s not going to be the worst thing and we can launch into the final two rounds of the year.”