EFL 2022: The Basin ends Mulgrave’s five-game winning run

A star veteran put on a show as The Basin ended Mulgrave’s run of five consecutive wins in the EFL’s Division 2 ...

A star veteran led the way as The Basin halted one of the form sides of the Eastern league’s Division 2.

Trevor Mills starred for the Bears on Saturday with seven goals as his side ended Mulgrave’s five-game winning streak, banking the points with a 22.8 (140) to 11.9 (75) upset.

The hosts blew the Lions away following quarter-time after a point separated the pair.

It was the response The Basin senior coach Justin Stanton had demanded after a “disappointing” showing against Templestowe the previous week following a “terrific” win over finals-fancy East Burwood a fortnight ago.

Trevor Mills kicked seven on Saturday. Picture: Paul Loughnan

“We were keen to make amends on the weekend,” he said.

“It’s probably another example that typifies our season so far where we’ve had some inconsistencies.

“It basically just started with our midfield and us being more efficient when we’ve gone forward.

“We kicked 22.8 and I think they walked four or five over the line under pressure so we kicked really accurately.

“It was a good team effort set up by the mids, the backs worked really well all day and we just moved the footy really well in conditions that were quite blustery at Batterham Reserve.”

Dean Boavida and Jackson Drake each bagged five majors alongside Mills’ haul, among eight individual goalkickers.

“They each benefitted from others’ work,” Stanton said.

“Matt Rennie who kicked one was one of our better forwards on the day. His work aerially generated a lot of ground balls which then Boavida and Mills benefitted from.

“Certainly two of the last three weeks the forward line has connected much better.”

The Basin coach Justin Stanton. Picture: Davis Harrigan

And on a day where the club toasted the anniversaries of the 2012 reserve and senior premiership sides, 2012 flag hero Mills was certainly “keen to put on a show for his old teammates”, Stanton said.

“I said to the guys pre-game that these guys have written their own history, and I’d love our guys to put on a show for them today.”

The win lifts the Bears to a 4-4-1 record for sixth spot on the ladder – outside the top five by percentage.

While not entirely pleased, Stanton said he was “content” with his side’s fightback after going winless with a draw in the first four rounds.

“We were disappointed with the first block, but credit to the teams that knocked us off,” he said.

“Then it was about getting ahead of the ledger – we set ourselves that goal for the halfway mark after the poor start.

“We didn’t quite meet it but we’re certainly in the hunt. We’re going to have to win a good chunk of those games in the run home I’d imagine.”