EFNL 2023: East Burwood upsets Division 2 power Waverley Blues in thriller

A thrilling upset of a top-two outfit has the Rams believing in the September dream, off the back of a dominant month in the Eastern league’s Division 2 ...

EAST BURWOOD has breathed life into its finals hopes with a stunning upset of a top-two outfit.

The Rams held off the second-placed Waverley Blues in a thriller on Saturday, 14.4 (88) to 12.13 (85), lifting them a game clear in fifth spot with a 6-5 record.

Despite slender leads at the first and main breaks, East Burwood dug deep in the final term to overturn a 15-point three-quarter time deficit.

East Burwood senior coach David Jensen owed plenty of the result to his side’s defensive work against Division 2’s No. 1 attacking side.

“We worked hard on our strategies to defend … we knew they’d be similar in regards to setting up as they’re very well coached, they’re a disciplined side and know their game really well,” Jensen said.

“The most pleasing thing was under all the pressure that the opposition had that we were able to pinch one, particularly on their ground which was nice.”

The Rams have had a dominant past month. Picture: East Burwood FC

Kodey Logan stood out in defence, taking the best-on-ground honours, while ruckmen Kyle Dove and Jacob Pylka proved instrumental as Jaymie Kempson kicked three goals.

“He (Logan) just set us up really well behind the ball, and intercepted a lot of ball coming in,” Jensen said.

“We sent big ‘Dovey’ (Kyle Dove) and ‘Pylks’ (Jacob Pylka) swapping in the ruck and they went down back for that plus-one, and players like Logan benefitted from that as well.”

Meanwhile, Omar Mohammad finished with three majors for the Blues, while Jimi Roufos finished among the best.

The Rams have enjoyed a dominant past month, stringing together four wins in a row including a come-from-behind win over Mulgrave last weekend and the scalp of finals-hopeful Ringwood.

Jensen owes the rich vein of form to continuity among the line-up – but declared his group was far from the finished product.

“We’re improving,” he said.

“From last year we’ve changed some things with how we play and we’re still evolving with that and I think we’re going to get better, and personnel are slowly coming back which helps as well.

“Probably the last month we’ve been able to hold onto the same players, so continuity is huge instead of having four or five changes every week.

“We haven’t strung four quarters together yet … for us to play four quarters is the next phase of our evolution.”

Just one match separates the Rams in fifth to Ringwood (sixth) and Mulgrave (seventh), but Jensen is confident his group can continue to march towards another finals berth.

“We’re playing much better now than what we were earlier in the year so we believe we’re going to be in amongst the top four now,” he said.

“With those guys (the top four) all playing each other, we’re hoping to go higher up the ladder and not just sit there in fifth.

“It’s still a really close race.”

Waverley Blues 3.2, 5.6, 10.12, 12.13 (85)

East Burwood 4.1, 7.2, 9.3, 14.4 (88)

Waverley Blues

Goals:

O. Mohammad 3, C. Duck 2, M. Perry 2, T. Hale, R. McNamara, J. Facey, T. Steele, J. Williamson

Best:

D. Roufos, A. Cramer, J. Walker, R. Serpanchy, O. Mohammad, S. Hale

East Burwood

Goals:

J. Kempson 3, J. Mulqueen 2, N. Pearson 2, L. Keighran 2, J. Connellan, K. Logan, M. Mariani, B. Barlow, M. Young

Best:

K. Logan, K. Dove, L. Keighran, M. Mariani, N. Pearson