EFL Division 1: Mitcham upsets Mooroolbark in qualifying final
A remarkable final-quarter blitz has Mitcham one win away from a second-consecutive grand final appearance. Here’s how it happened.
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A final-quarter blitz has Mitcham one win away from a second consecutive grand final.
The Tigers upset Mooroolbark in the Division 1 qualifying final on Saturday, 16.10 (106) to 9.12 (66), following a rush of seven consecutive last-term goals to hand the Mustangs back-to-back losses for the first time this year.
It’s also the first time Mooroolbark has lost two matches in a row since rounds six and seven, 2021 – when the club lost three matches on the trot from Round 5.
The Tigers, who finished third, enjoyed early ascendancy with the breeze for a 15-point buffer at the first break, before the second-placed Mustangs cut the deficit to just two points at the half.
Six points separated the pair – Mitcham’s way – at the last change before the onslaught against the wind.
Mitcham coach Neil Winterton implored his charges to dig deep against one of the division’s pacesetters.
“I asked our boys for a big effort in the last quarter and to their credit, their pressure around the footy was fantastic,” Winterton said.
“We were running on top of the ground in the last quarter … to come away with a pretty convincing win in the end was pretty pleasing.
“They (Mooroolbark) only lost the two games (this season) … they’d knocked us off the first two times we played them and they were able to pull away from us (in the second half).
“It was pleasing to reverse that trend.”
Mooroolbark senior coach Bret Lavars lamented his side’s lack of defensive run in the final term.
“If I’m honest, I thought Mitcham were a lot hungrier,” he said.
“I thought they played a really good brand of footy and they deserved to win rather than ourselves.
“Very disappointed is the takeaway, that’s for sure.”
Winterton noted Riley Nicholas across half-back as “outstanding all day” with his intercept work, while Guy Laughlin’s “second and third efforts” alongside three majors also stood out.
“They’re probably two (standouts) but it was a pretty even contribution across the board,” Winterton said.
Jake Parente led the scoring for the Tigers with four goals, while fellow forward Tom Lovell also featured among the best for his role in the ruck.
Reigning Division 1 medallist Austin Smith was the Mustangs’ best-on-ground in the midfield while Jai Jordan finished with three majors.
The win sets the Tigers a date with minor premier East Ringwood in the second semi-final next Saturday.
A victory would send Mitcham into a second straight decider after earning promotion from Division 2 following a flag in 2019.
Winterton is under no illusions about the task at hand – but says Saturday’s performance is cause for optimism.
“I don’t think there’s any doubt they’re (East Ringwood) the benchmark – their last three or four weeks have been outstanding,” he said.
“They’re hitting their straps at the right time of year – last time we played them we lost by nine points.
“That was a good six or seven weeks ago, so how much water that holds is questionable.
“But we’re pretty confident given the way we played today that if we can replicate the way we played, we can give them a shake for sure.”
Mooroolbark will play the winner of Sunday’s Montrose versus Wantirna South elimination final in the following week’s first semi-final on August 28.
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