EFNL 2025: Emerging stars fuel East Ringwood’s firing Premier Division start
Propelled by its next generation of stars, East Ringwood heads the Premier Division ladder following a narrow escape against Mitcham. Here’s who stood out.
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Propelled by its next generation of stars, East Ringwood heads the ladder.
The Roos etched a nail-biting six-point win over Mitcham on Anzac Day under lights, holding off a second-half charge after leading by 20 points at the main break. The result lifted its record to 2-0.
As the driving rain arrived, the visiting Tigers tightened the screws to close the gap to just 10 at the final change.
“They’re a quality outfit and have done a lot of winning over the last few years – they never give up,” East Ringwood coach Ben Osborne said following the 10.10 (70) to 10.4 (64) escape.
“Maybe if we’d kicked a bit straighter we’d have put them to bed a bit earlier.”
Without Chandler Medal-winning captain James Belo, defender Damon Delaney stepped in as skipper and delivered a best-afield showing.
“He just led by example, he won the Anzac spirit award,” Osborne said.
“He led our defence really well – him and Jackson Weatherill, two 23, 24-year-olds were outstanding.”
On the biggest of stages, Osborne says standing up is what Delaney does.
Internally, he’s rated as highly as anyone the coach declared, pointing to his shutdown job on Balwyn livewire Charlie Haley in last year’s grand final. Externally, he’s perhaps underrated.
“As a smaller defender I think (external recognition) will come – he’s respected internally,” Osborne said.
“We can give him a job on tallish players, he can take any one of those (forwards) – he intercepts a lot and he’s just a fantastic leader of our footy club.”
He’s among a band of the Roos’ underbelly of emerging talent stepping up, while key forward Josh Fox finished with four majors in trying conditions.
“Connor Weightman was really good around the midfield with James (Belo) and Josh Weightman out,” Osborne said.
“That leadership coming from underneath our senior boys (and) going to another level – we’re really proud of those guys.”
East Ringwood is away to Berwick in Round 3.
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