EFNL 2024: Oakleigh District sinks Upper Gully by three points in finals boost
Oakleigh District pinched a thrilling come-from-behind victory on Saturday to shore up its spot in the Eastern league Division 3 top five.
Eastern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Eastern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Oakleigh District has boosted its finals hopes – while dealing Upper Ferntree Gully’s a hammer blow – after snatching a three-point victory on Saturday.
Trailing by eight points at the half, the Oaks cut the margin to just three at three-quarter time before edging ahead in the final term to win 6.4 (40) to 5.7 (37).
The loss sends Upper Gully two games behind the top five with three home-and-away matches remaining – while the Oaks consolidate their spot in the race, moving two matches clear in fifth.
Oakleigh District playing-coach Blake Pearson lauded his group’s steely resolve in the arm wrestle played in wet and muddy conditions at Kings Park.
“I don’t know if I’ve played in conditions quite like that for some time,” Pearson said.
“Speaking to the boys after the game as well, I was pretty confident all the way through after quarter-time that we were going to get the win despite not being in front.
“I thought we were able to adjust to the conditions, play a little bit more territory football and we probably didn’t capitalise on the score as much as we should have.”
Simon Black was the hero for the visitors, kicking truly for the matchwinning goal eight minutes into the last quarter.
“There were some opportunities for us to score and for ‘Blacky’ to step up from I guess what was almost a 50m kick with a heavy football, it was an important goal,” Pearson said.
“After that we played some really smart football to eventually win the game.”
Jacob Warne was best-afield for the Oaks, while Pearson also proved instrumental in his move into the midfield after quarter-time having started forward.
“I had a really good chat to him (Warne) on Thursday about his role and what he brings to the team,” Pearson said.
“He’s normally a centre half-forward, but played dual ruck with Pat Lucarelli.
“His ability to compete around the ground, almost like a fourth on-baller (impressed) … he was really important in gaining some ascendancy in the midfield.”
The Oaks are faced with two of Division 3’s heavyweights in the run home, with top-five outfits Knox and Surrey Park in the next fortnight. A clash with 2023 grand finalist Ferntree Gully closes out the home-and-away season.
“It’s pretty challenging,” Pearson said.
“Three pretty tough games and hopefully we can win two of the three, or three out of three ideally to continue our good form going into finals.”
Grand final wins and a shock or two
Finals accelerated in local footy with plenty of grand final winners as elsewhere there were stunning results as teams looked to qualify for the decider. Here are the talking points from Saturday’s football.
Ex-VFL man wins Vermont’s top job
The Eastern league’s most successful club has wasted no time appointing its next senior coach following the exit of Adam Parker, with a former state league assistant taking the reins.