EFNL 2025: Vermont edges Berwick by a point in Premier Division nail-biter
Vermont banked more than just four points in its thrilling victory over Berwick on Saturday according to the coach. Meanwhile, there’s an update on the return of ex-AFL man Sam Weideman.
Eastern
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VERMONT coach Matt Adolph stressed the significance of the win to his players after the match.
The Eagles denied Berwick its first victory of the season in heart-stopping fashion on Saturday, holding on by a whisker in a low-scoring arm-wrestle, 4.15 (39) to 5.8 (38).
Berwick, which led narrowly at the half and final change, hit the front again with eight minutes expired in the last term before the hosts scrapped their way to victory, registering 2.6 in the final quarter.
The hero? Vermont’s Kobe Askew, kicking the winning point with 90 seconds left.
“We were peppering them there in the last quarter, but their defence held up,” Adolph said.
“I said to the players after the game that you probably don’t understand the significance of that win until later on in the year – it might get you into playing a final, a top-three spot or whatever it may be.
“This time of year, you just want to take any four points you can get.”
Despite sitting second-last on the ladder, winless from five matches, Berwick certainly didn’t lose any fans.
“Probably some sides underestimate how good Berwick are … they’re not far away from getting a scalp for sure,” Adolph said.
“They’re probably similar to us in terms of age demographic as well, they’re a young side and full of enthusiasm like us.
“They play their best footy at smaller grounds … Round 1 and 2, they kicked seven and nine goals from stoppages, so we knew it was going to be a tough ask for us.”
Matt Willcocks, Angus Strachan, Lachlan Reidy, Joe Fisher and Oscar Dunn featured among Vermont’s best – but captain James Ross was the standout.
The young defender took the honours against experienced Wickers goalkicker Jordy Andrews.
“I reckon there would’ve been a good dozen, if not more, contests (between them) and I reckon ‘Rossy’ won most of them,” Adolph said.
“He played an outstanding game for us.”
The victory lifted Vermont to a 3-2 record for sixth spot – and the Eagles could be boosted by the return of star duo Sam Weideman and Liam Buxton in six weeks.
Ex-AFL forward Weideman – whose shoulder injury a fortnight ago was feared as season-ending – had surgery last Monday and was expected back sooner than first thought, alongside ruckman Buxton as he recovers from a knee.
“It is a pretty severe shoulder injury, I don’t know the ins and outs but there’s a type of surgery you can get done these days that a lot of AFL blokes are getting,” Adolph said of Weideman.
“I think they’re talking about him being out of a sling in a couple of weeks – the hardest thing is the wound healing, but outside of that, once the wound’s healed, he’ll be doing some strength stuff and stationary skills.
“He won’t be off the track for too long.”
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