EFL 2022: Ladder-leading Blues blitz Bloods by 69 points

The Division 3 leader made a big statement against second-placed Warrandyte on Saturday, with the highest praise reserved for one particular area ...

It’s arguably as big a statement made in the Eastern league’s Division 3 this season.

The ladder-leading Waverley Blues romped to a 69-point victory over second-placed Warrandyte, 16.14 (110) to 5.11 (41) to cap “an amazing last couple of games for us”, coach Tom Langford said.

The Blues defeated top-four outfit Donvale by 72 points the week prior before Saturday’s result.

“If you were writing the script, it’s pretty much how you would like it to go,” Langford said.

“We need to celebrate it but also understand Warrandyte had a couple of key outs like Donvale did and we’re going to meet those sides later in the year no doubt.

“I think we’ve got a bit of a blueprint now that we think can help us … but it won’t be the same battle next time we play.”

EFL Division 3 2022: Waverley Blues coach Tom Langford on Saturday. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Missing in action for the Bloods was prolific goalkicker Ryan Phillips alongside midfielder Tom Grimes.

Headlining the Blues’ outs was gun forward Josh Williamson, who had kicked 16 majors in his past two matches.

But Matt Perry led the way in attack in Williamson’s absence with three majors as the ladder-leader put the visitors to the sword after quarter-time, turning a 12-point advantage into 59 by the final change.

Langford lauded his charges’ response after two weeks off, with a bye and Queen’s Birthday weekend.

EFL Division 3 2022: Nicholas Frescher of the Waverley Blues celebrates his goal. Picture: George Salpigtidis

“If I’m honest I was a bit nervous going into the game after two weeks off … two weeks off is a big break so I think we were a bit scratchy in the first quarter, especially with our skills, but the mentality of the boys and the trust in our system stood out in the end,” he said.

But the biggest praise was reserved for the defence.

“We were able to keep the ball in our forward and mid-third, and our backs across the middle of the ground were sensational,” Langford said.

“Sam Hale, Jack Strongman, Lloyd Butcher, Ben Turner especially, our four taller backs, and Joel Hatch, Ryan Serpanchy, Simon Hawkins, Ryan McNamara, our smaller defenders, they repelled everything.

“Despite what the score suggests, Warrandyte’s defenders stood up pretty well also, a large spread of goalkickers shows we had to fight for goals.

“It was a huge performance from our backline group.”

Ryan McNamara of Waverley Blues evades the tackle from Taylor Hayton of Warrandyte. Picture: George Salpigtidis

The Bloods’ Luke Shelton finished among his side’s best with three goals.

Saturday’s win lifts the Blues to a ninth consecutive victory with a 9-1 record, with their only loss coming at the hands of the Bloods by two points in Round 1.

Josh Beasley (left) was best afield for Warrandyte. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Three games separate Waverley (first) from Warrandyte (second), with the Blues’ percentage of 161.3 some 32 per cent better than the division’s next best, Donvale (129.2).

“We’ve put ourselves in a great position now with a nice healthy gap on our rivals,” Langford said.

“The relegation battles plus the other spots in the (top) four, we’ve put ourselves in a good position to avoid a lot of that and focus on ourselves.”