EFNL 2023: Rowville defeats Vermont in Premier Division grand final
Just 20 years ago it competed in Division 4. Now Rowville is the king of the Eastern league following its first top-flight flag on Saturday after edging powerhouse Vermont.
Eastern
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ROWVILLE has conquered the summit.
The Hawks are toasting their first-ever top-flight premiership after edging Vermont by 10 points in Saturday’s Eastern league Premier Division grand final.
In a tough, contested battle at Bayswater Oval, the 9.12 (66) to 8.8 (56) victory came as Rowville led at all changes, pulling away by 15 points at the final change.
Hawks defender Jesse Eickhoff was awarded the Cliff Tomkins-Blue Ribbon Medal as best afield for his job on Vermont livewire Adrian Kalcovski.
It’s a victory transcending those on-field or moving the magnets, Rowville senior coach Ben Wise said, as the club completed an almighty rise after toiling away in Division 4 just 20 years ago.
“You look at the celebrations after the game and the families and the people – it’s just such a big story for everyone else,” Wise said.
“I was a bit blown away with how much it means to so many people, and just to see the smiles, the joy and the tears, it was outstanding.”
Kicking with the breeze, the Hawks scrapped to a 12-point quarter-time lead – keeping the Eagles goalless – before a Lachlan McDonald major increased the margin to 16 points in the opening 20 seconds of the second term.
Vermont replied instantly through Jamieson Rossiter before the sides stalemated for some 17 minutes – Rowville’s Maverick Taylor breaking the deadlock to send the Hawks 18 ahead approaching time-on.
But a late Eagles surge through ex-AFL ‘Roo Daniel Neilson and former captain Lachie Johns cut the deficit to just seven points at the half.
On top in the clearances, minor premier Vermont continued to tighten the screws in the third quarter, drawing level midway through the term following back-to-back majors.
Vermont’s challenge demanded an answer – and Rowville got it – as captain Anthony Brolic kicked truly from the 50m arc to steady the ship with 20 minutes expired.
“He took the moment, seized it and nailed it,” Wise said.
The combatants traded goals early in the last quarter – dominating the inside-50s, the Eagles drew within four points courtesy of Campbell Barker running into an open goal.
But Rowville, which fell at the final hurdle in last year’s decider, was not to be denied. Mitchell Sruk took his opportunity in attack for a 10-point lead, declining Vermont a third cup in five years.
“We knew they were going to come, they’re a quality unit and they’ve been in the best couple all year … their (Vermont’s) game style’s always going to show up,” Wise said.
“There was a bit of wind going one way, to we had to make sure when it came, we had to weather the storm.
“It was a pretty scrappy game to watch – and that’s a credit to probably the pressure from both sides.
“Defensively we were under the pump, they harassed us and we did likewise to them.
“We had to make sure that when we had the opportunity to control the footy that we did, and at stages we looked really good when we caught them off guard, and we hit the scoreboard.”
Lachlan McDonald and Maverick Taylor kicked two goals each for the Hawks – McDonald proving a “point of difference for us”, the coach said, while Daniel Neilson finished with three for Vermont.
Vermont forward Kalcovski topped the goalkicking in the Premier Division this season, filling his boots with six against the Hawks in Round 11 before a return of three in the semi-final a fortnight ago.
But Eickhoff’s best-on-ground showing ensured a goalless outing for the Eagle, as Kyle Stainthorpe also stood out in defence.
“He was super one-on-one,” Wise said of Eickhoff.
“Every week I put it on him to play on the best full-forward and week on week, he’s probably only had his colours lowered once or twice in the years I’ve been coaching.
“It’s been pretty special.”
Returning big man Nik Schoenmakers won the ruck battle in his first match since early July, after a serious leg injury in Round 11 cast doubt over his campaign.
“It just shows you the weapon that he is,” Wise said.
“He did all the work and did everything he was supposed to.
“It’s a credit to him … not many people would be able to do that at this level, and blokes that are full-time playing in the AFL would’ve been up against it to get back in the time that he did.”
As a player, coach and president, Paul 'Monster' Mynott has served Rowville FC wonderfully well. And tonight he's coming to grips with the club's first top-division premiership cup in Eastern. âï¸ pic.twitter.com/KsVCtO30Fx
— Paul Amy (@PaulAmy375) September 16, 2023
Lifting the cup couldn’t be sweeter for Wise, in his third season as senior coach.
The 2008 Balwyn premiership hero said Saturday’s triumph was all about “a journey and the experience” after last year’s heartbreak.
“We were unfortunately on the wrong end of the stick last year,” Wise said.
“We learnt from it, understood what we did wrong and recruited specifically to make our squad better – and I think the people that we added really played a part in getting the win.”
Vermont 0.4, 3.5, 5.7, 8.8 (56)
Rowville 2.2, 4.6, 7.10, 9.12 (66)
Vermont
Goals:
D. Nielson 3, L. Rathjen 2, L. Jenkins, C. Barker, J. Rossiter
Best:
L. Johns, J. Fisher, C. Daraio, L. Jenkins, Z. Thiessen, J. Ross
Rowville
Goals:
M. Taylor, L. McDonald 2, K. Flakemore, M. Martini, A. Brolic, M. Sruk, L. Wynd
Best:
J. Eickhoff, M. Martini, A. Brolic, M. Taylor, K. Stainthorpe, J. Clarke
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