EFNL 2025: Croydon North-MLOC, Lachlan Poli edge Whitehorse in after-the-siren classic

Croydon North-MLOC snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday with a young gun producing an after-the-siren kick for one of the upsets of the season.

EFNL 2025: Croydon North-MLOC wins it after the siren against the Whitehorse Pioneers. Picture: Supplied

It’s lauded as the one of the club’s greatest-ever wins.

Croydon North-MLOC snatched victory from the jaws of defeat on Saturday with an after-the-siren kick delivering one of the upsets of the Eastern Division 4 season.

The Kanga-Rams’ Lachlan Poli kicked truly to sink the heavy-hitting Whitehorse Pioneers by two points, sending teammates and supporters into raptures.

Remarkably accurate, kicking 15.2 (92) to 13.12 (90), the hosts relinquished a 28-point half-time lead, with the Pioneers cutting the deficit to just 12 at the final change before surging eight points clear midway through the last term.

Croydon North-MLOC senior coach Ben Oakes recounted the heart-stopping finish, with Poli kicking two of his three goals within the final 90 seconds of the match to snatch the win.

“He actually kicked one about a minute-and-a-half earlier from the boundary with his left foot to put us within three, and then in the last 30 seconds we managed to get a clearance from the stoppage and hit that inside kick which gave us a good entry,” Oakes said.

“He took the mark at the top of the 45, and here we are.

“It was an exceptional moment for a young footballer, but there is a lot that goes into a win like that, so for us, it’s a huge step in the right direction.

“It’s something that’s probably going to be talked about for the next 20 years … it’s a memorable win for us, probably one of the best, if not, the best.”

Ruckman Adam O’Donohue featured among the best players alongside, Jake Guerin (three goals), Michael Condello, Leigh Odermatt and Michael Muller (two), Konrad Bendrups and Matt McKane.

But the biggest shout was reserved for emerging defender Taylor Holly – son of former senior coach, Mark.

“Taylor was exceptional – we lost Sam Currie halfway through the first quarter with a knee, his defensive work and rebound out of the defensive 50 was exceptional for a kid who’s just turned 20,” Oakes said.

“We got a lot of drive from our back half to our midfield and then up to Lachie.”

The victory lifted the Kanga-Rams to a 4-5 record – just one game and percentage outside the top four. Meanwhile, the result dealt the Pioneers a second consecutive loss, sitting third at 5-3.

And taking one of the division’s most sought-after scalps certainly wasn’t lost on the coach.

“A lot of our players are within that 19-25 (age) mark, so what this should do is enable the group to believe that they can win the game when it’s in striking range,” Oakes said.

Croydon North-MLOC has the bye this weekend before its clash with Forest Hill on July 5.