EFNL 2024: Vermont edges Noble Park for first win of Premier Division season
The Eagles dragged their Eastern Premier Division season back from the brink of collapse with a nail-biting breakthrough win over a resurgent Noble Park on Saturday.
Eastern
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VERMONT senior coach Adam Parker admits a loss could have “broken” his group.
The Eagles are on the board with their first victory of the Eastern Premier Division season, handing Noble Park its first loss in a 9.11 (65) to 9.9 (63) thriller at Pat Wright Snr Oval on Saturday.
Trailing by 12 points 10 minutes into the final term, Vermont finished with the last two goals of the match courtesy of Ryan Fitzpatrick and Daniel Neilson – before a Tyson Calder behind with 22 minutes expired edged the visitors ahead to drag their season back from the brink of collapse.
Staring down the barrel at a 0-4 start, Parker said his side had shown “glimpses of good footy over the first three rounds” following losses to Blackburn, Balwyn and Rowville.
But a four-quarter effort set apart Saturday’s match from the Eagles’ preceding three weeks.
“We’ve had moments of good footy but (on Saturday) we really set ourselves for four good quarters against a side that was undefeated at their home ground … it’s pretty tough to win here,” Parker said.
“I think we were a deserving winning side – our pressure was through the roof with the way we pressured them.
“They’re (Noble Park) a really skilful side and we limited their ability to move the ball which is something I’m really proud of.
“Both teams missed some opportunities but I think the group would’ve been broken if we lost that game because we did deserve to win.”
Down key personnel with forward Adrian Kalcovski (suspended), defender James Ross (unavailable) and former VFL man Lochie Dickson (hamstring injury) among the missing stars, the coach described the post-game feeling as one of “relief”.
“We had a few guys out, but we think our system’s pretty strong and after doing it for a few years we think the understanding of our system and how we want to play holds us in good stead in big matches,” Parker said.
“I think it’s probably a bit of relief, reward for effort … we thought it was played in our half a lot of the game and we didn’t get as much reward as possible.
“We’re slowly getting it together, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do on our execution.”
The Eagles’ Zac Thiessen – usually a defender – finished best afield for his tireless ruckwork, while inside midfielder Lucas Vassis also impressed.
“He was enormous,” Parker said of Thiessen, who took a game-saving mark deep in defence at the 25-minute-mark of the last term.
“Realistically he’s not a ruckman and played ruck (on Saturday) – when you play guys out of their position and they perform that way it’s really pleasing.”
Meanwhile, Neilson finished with two majors after a spell in the reserves the previous week.
The ex-AFL Kangaroo clunked plenty of marks amid an unrelenting Noble Park defence.
“That was his best game for the club since he’s been here,” Parker said.
“He caught everything, missed a few shots … he could’ve probably kicked six and he was a force down there. We got it in there a lot more than we had in the past three weeks.”
Vermont’s next month holds Doncaster East (away), South Croydon (home), Berwick and Norwood (both away), as it looks right its win-loss ratio.
For Parker, the equation is simple: “If you don’t turn up for quarters, you don’t win.”
Noble Park 2.4, 5.6, 7.8, 9.9 (63)
Vermont 3.0, 4.4, 6.8, 9.11 (65)
Best players
Noble Park: Jackson Sketcher, Anthony Marson, Ben Marson, Lachlan McDonnell, Tom Bower, Nathan Noblett
Vermont: Zac Thiessen, Daniel Nielson, Lucas Vassis, Joseph Fisher, Tyson Calder, Josh Spencer
Goals
Noble Park: Ben Marson 3, Tom Nelson, Nathan Noblett 2, Harley Fairbank, Jordan Marson
Vermont: Daniel Neilson 2, Kye Barlow, Tyson Calder, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Lachie Johns, Jamieson Rossiter, Henry Smith, Zac Thiessen
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