EFNL 2024: Donvale overcomes gallant Gully in Division 3 grand final rematch
Key forward Nick Murphy helped his side to a second-half surge as Donvale won bragging rights in the Eastern Division 3 grand final rematch on Saturday. But he wasn’t the only standout ...
Eastern
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DONVALE remains the team to beat in the Eastern league’s Division 3 after overcoming a gallant Ferntree Gully in the grand final rematch on Saturday.
An inaccurate Vales sunk the Eagles 9.18 (72) to 6.9 (45) after trailing at the quarter and half-time breaks as spearhead Nick Murphy starred with five goals.
The Gully raced to a 19-point lead ticking into time-on of the opening term, before it was dealt a major midfield blow with Jake Siewert succumbing to a shoulder injury, taking no further part in the match.
He wasn’t the Eagles’ only casualty, with Gavin Kalisperis – who finished with two goals – suffering broken ribs just after half-time.
Goalless until the 26-minute-mark of the first quarter, Donvale closed the gap to just three points at the main break, courtesy of two second-quarter majors from Murphy.
The premiership big man goaled a minute into the third to surge the Vales ahead.
They didn’t look back, keeping a firm grip on the lead.
Despite the 27-point win, Donvale senior coach Kevin Collins conceded “our pressure in the first quarter just wasn’t up to it” as the hosts took advantage.
“They just got us on the outside and I feel we ran one way and we didn’t run both ways – I thought our defensive craft was probably average at best in that first half,” he said.
“To their credit, they were intense and had good inside and outside balance, and we didn’t work hard enough to curb that.
“We were kicking long points, and everything we trained to do, we either didn’t do or weren’t allowed to do, but that’s credit to Ferntree Gully.”
The coach wasn’t short of praise for Murphy.
“Nick was fantastic – his contested work was as good as what I’d seen,” Collins said.
“When we lowered our eyes and looked to Nick and Ethan (Duncan), things got better.
“Prior to that, Ferntree Gully had all of the momentum.”
Kyele Heagney also finished among the best alongside ruckman Zac Haig.
“Kyele was probably the only player who kept us in the game in that first half,” Collins said.
“His run was enormous and his workrate was fantastic. He was covering a lot of ground.
“Zac is one of the most honest, hard-working sportsmen – he’s just a workhorse.”
The match marked the Vales and Eagles’ first meeting since the 2023 Division 3 grand final, in which Collins’ charges prevailed by 60 points.
He’s under no illusion the Gully could be around the mark again this season.
“It opened up in the second half (on Saturday), but it was hard – it was a real tough grind.”
Ferntree Gully 3.5, 4.7, 4.8, 6.9 (45)
Donvale 1.7, 3.10, 5.12, 9.18 (72)
Best players
Ferntree Gully: Shane Woolley, Callum Pola, Jordan Paterson, Tom Ostrom
Donvale: Nick Murphy, Zachary Haig, Adam Cameron, Max Otten, Jake McCormack, Kyele Heagney
Goals
Ferntree Gully: Gavin Kalisperis, Callum Pola 2, Nick Woods
Donvale: Nick Murphy 5, Ben Lyall 2, Kaide Fittolani, James Rausa
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