EFNL Division 3 2023: Warrandyte upsets Ferntree Gully to pose cliffhanging end to season

One of several starkly different scenarios awaits Warrandyte at season’s end after it threw a major spanner in the works with an upset of a Division 3 heavyweight ...

WARRANDYTE’s season is alive.

The Bloods resuscitated their Eastern league Division 3 campaign with an 11.8 (74) to 10.12 (72) upset of second-placed Ferntree Gully on Saturday to draw within six points of the top four.

But they sit sixth of the comp’s eight teams with four wins, eight losses and a draw – six points clear of last spot, with the wooden-spooner to be relegated at season’s end.

Warrandyte senior coach Paul Donahoo said his side’s current position off the back of Saturday’s result posed several scenarios of stark contrast.

“We’re two games off that (top four) but we’re only six points off relegation, so you could be in Division 2, Division 3 or Division 4 next year and we’ve got five games left in the season,” he said.

“It’s a really bizarre situation to be in.”

The Bloods led by 16 points at half-time on Saturday before the Eagles surged back to pinch an eight-point advantage at the last change.

Donahoo recounted the seesawing final quarter, lauding his side’s resolve “that they weren’t going to roll over”.

“In the last five minutes we had two shots for goal – Quinn Clark and Lachie O’Brien both missed and put us two points up … but I reckon with only 15 seconds left, they (Ferntree Gully) took it from one end to the other, had a snap for goal which went out of bounds and the siren goes,” he said.

“That’s how close it can be.

“It was really good to finally get some reward and the scenes post-siren were like we’d won a final just about, because there had been a lot of downs and a lot of tough times.

“Not just for us, but even the supporters and spectators were just loving it.”

Nikoda Brooking was best afield. Pictured in special NAIDOC Week guernsey. Picture: Warrandyte FC

But the victory has come at a cost, with key forward Ryan Phillips re-injuring his hamstring after kicking four goals in the opening half.

Donahoo said the spearhead would receive scans this week and would be a “touch and go” prospect to return this season, having just come back from the same injury a fortnight ago.

Nikoda Brooking starred in a best-afield display with two pivotal goals in the last quarter, while Zak Carroll raked in 42 possessions, adding to a dominant past month.

Also earning the praise of the coach was Quinn Clark who continued to relish a recent move into defence, while Taylor Hayton took sole responsibility in the ruck.

The Bloods marked NAIDOC Week with a special indigenous guernsey worn, designed by artist Mervyn Street which is based off the story of Brooking’s heritage.

“He (Brooking) also led the side on Saturday and had a few words before the game about the jumper and what it means,” Donahoo said.

“Nikoda’s last quarter was phenomenal – he took two really important marks that cut them off from going forward and really stood up and led the way.

“It’s a testament to him – his last two or three weeks off the field have been really good from a leadership perspective as well, and on Saturday when push came to shove, his leadership and ability to drag other blokes along was phenomenal.”

The match also marked the senior debut of under-19 product Will Hatfield who didn’t take a backwards step according to the coach.

“He just gave us a bit of mongrel in the middle and just had a crack … the other blokes fed off that as well,” Donahoo said.

“He’s a solidly-built bloke, looks like a 1980s footballer – he just attacked the footy, he got the first centre clearance of the game, then on the second or third one laid a big tackle to get a holding the ball on one of their good players and all of a sudden, he’s in the game with a bit of energy.

“It just helped bring people along.”

Warrandyte 3.0, 8.1, 8.4, 11.8 (74)

Ferntree Gully 3.1, 5.3, 9.6, 10.12 (72)

Warrandyte

Goals:

R. Phillips 4, J. Harkins 3, N. Brooking 2, L. Guymer, C. Tout

Best:

N. Brooking, T. Hayton, W. Hatfield, Z. Carroll, Q. Clark, J. Bradford

Ferntree Gully

Goals:

L. Monteath 3, C. Salvador 2, N. Woods, W. Cooper, J. Flannery, B. Wright, J. Paterson

Best:

L. Monteath, E. Kiker, J. Flannery, L. Young, H. Harvey