EFL 2022: Rowville holds off South Croydon comeback to remain game-clear in first

The Hawks consolidated their place atop of the EFL Premier Division ladder on Saturday, but they didn’t have it all their own way.

ROWVILLE has held off a final-quarter fightback from South Croydon to consolidate top spot on the Eastern league Premier Division ladder.

The Hawks’ 11.16 (82) to 10.7 (67) victory comes as the Bulldogs rallied from 36 points down late in the third quarter to draw within eight points ticking into time-on of the last.

Rowville senior coach Ben Wise said his group’s team defence set the difference for “three-and-a-half quarters” but lamented a final-term lapse which saw a 30-point three-quarter time lead evaporate.

Rowville’s Cooper MacDonald finished among the Hawks’ best on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

“I thought early we were really good, but then our ball-movement allowed them to exit,” Wise said.

“We had shallow entries and that’s what sort of brought them back into the game and gave them a little bit of a sniff late.

“But for three-and-a-half quarters we were really strong defensively and our team defence through the middle of the ground slowed their ball-movement which allowed us to make it a bit of a territory game and keep it forward.

“Just probably 10 minutes in that last quarter where we gave them a sniff was disappointing.”

Anthony Brolic dishes off a handball. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Wise sung the praises of defender Jesse Eickhoff on South Croydon’s Robbie Mallison, while Nashua Wood (two goals), Jake Arundell (three), Anthony Brolic, Ali Zijai and Cooper MacDonald all provided plenty through the middle and in attack to finish in the best.

“It was just a good, collective (effort),” Wise said.

“(South Croydon’s Max) King in the ruck gave us plenty to worry about, but I thought our midfield got on top, most of the day.”

Max King (South Croydon) and Nik Schoenmakers (Rowville) contest the ruck. Picture: Valeriu Campan

South Croydon’s James Wilsen spearheaded his side’s last-quarter revival in attack and finished with five majors to be named in the Bulldogs’ best alongside ex-VFL midfielder Brayden Kilpatrick.

South Croydon senior coach Marcus Buzaglo said while the comeback was cause for optimism against the ladder-leader, too many opportunities went begging.

The Bulldogs remain in fifth spot with a 7-5 record.

“Our best footy is certainly good enough to match it with the best side,” Buzaglo said.

“Certainly that first eight or nine minutes of that third quarter we had our chances, we were just missing kicks inside 50 and we just didn’t take our opportunities early, and against good sides you have to do that.”

MORE: ‘Our best is good enough’, South Croydon coach says

Rowville senior coach Ben Wise addressing players on Saturday. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Rowville is ranked third in the competition for points against – a mere two points behind Noble Park and five behind Doncaster East, who the Hawks clash with next weekend.

“There’s no rest for the wicked,” Wise said.

“It’s been a really important month for us with Blackburn and Vermont, so we haven’t had a rest.

“When you’ve got sides vying for finals, they come and want to have a crack at us every time as well.

“People are wanting us to slip, I don’t think we’re going to do that, we’re providing a good brand of footy and it’s stacking up.”