EFL 2022: Wantirna South upsets Mooroolbark to snap six-year finals drought

The Devils will play off in their first finals series in years after upsetting one of EFL Division 1’s pacesetters on Saturday.

WANTIRNA SOUTH is in.

The Devils snapped a six-year finals drought on Saturday with a stunning upset victory over second-placed Mooroolbark to finish in fifth spot.

The 15.12 (102) to 13.9 (87) result marks only the Mustangs’ second loss this season.

Meanwhile, Montrose sealed a finals berth with a seven-point win over Croydon to finish fourth to deny the sixth-placed Blues a spot – setting up an elimination final with Wantirna South next Sunday.

The match will mark the Devils’ first finals showing since the 2016 Division 2 grand final.

Senior coach Steve Cochrane, who resigned during the week, said the previous round’s loss to ninth-placed Lilydale served as one of many drivers behind the upset.

Lincoln Wong was again one of the Devils’ best according to coach Steve Cochrane. Photo: Hamish Blair

The Devils were missing key names David Lang, David Del Papa and Kye Barlow while the Mustangs were without gun midfielder Kane Noonan and wingman Cayden Maki.

Just 11 points separated the sides at half-time before Wantirna South cut the deficit to three at the final change.

“We were very disappointed about the prior week … I know as a group we wanted to make amends,” Cochrane said.

“The finals spot was on the line, our last home game and myself resigning during the week, (it) all collated into that last game of the year.

“It was one of those days in footy where everything comes together and we were able to execute exactly what we wanted to do.

“They had a couple out but so did we … it was a bloody great win.”

The Devils lost to lower-placed Lilydale the previous week. Photo: Hamish Blair

The forwards fired in a shoot-out as Wantirna South’s Liam Hewett bagged six and Mooroolbark’s Aaron Mullett, seven.

Jaryd Smith, Brook Kainey and Pat Wallis also snagged two apiece for the Devils.

“Aaron was unbelievable in the first half – he was off the chain and he was probably the difference, but Hewett at the other end was causing a lot of trouble for Mooroolbark,” Cochrane said.

“We had a few more other guys contributing to the scoreboard as well – we knew after half-time that we were never going to stop Aaron but if we could try and curtail his influence, it would certainly go a long way to winning a tight game.”

Steve Cochrane will step down as Devils coach at season’s end. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Inside midfielder Lincoln Wong stood out for the Devils while the coach also lauded Nathan Denes with a “big second half” matching up on Mullett.

The pair capped a collective four-quarter effort the coach couldn’t fault.

“He’s (Wong) been huge … he gets targeted in every game and he’s still able to get up for us and really contribute for us – he had a great influence on the game,” Cochrane said.

“Every contest was like their last contest, it was a fantastic win.

“The guys just played tremendous footy, and it was just one of those days as a coach where you get a four-quarter effort at the most crucial time of the year.”

Reigning Division 1 medallist Austin Smith and ex-AFL Bomber Heath Hocking finished among the Mustangs’ best alongside Mullett.

Mooroolbark meets third-placed Mitcham in a qualifying final at Boronia’s Tormore Reserve next Saturday.