EFNL 2025: Warrandyte reignites season in second-half blitz

A top-four spot awaited the winner – and Warrandyte delivered to breathe life into its Eastern Division 4 campaign, answering the coach’s challenge on Saturday.

EFNL 2025: Warrandyte belts out the song after its 47-point win over Bulleen Templestowe on Saturday. Picture: Daniel Cencic

And just like that, Warrandyte’s season is alive.

The Bloods – which banked just one win from their first five games – shot into Eastern Division 4’s top four with a 13.9 (87) to 5.10 (40) victory over cross-town rival Bulleen Templestowe on Saturday.

On the back foot early, the Bloods rallied in the second term, closing a 12-point quarter-time margin to just two at the half before taking control in the third for a 25-point buffer at the final change.

In Round 1, the Bloods let slip a 15-point advantage against the Bullants leading into the last term.

On Saturday, Warrandyte coach Paul Donahoo implored his players at three-quarter time to bury their opposition – and he got it, consigning the visitors to a goalless second half.

“We’ve had moments throughout the year where we’ve played like that, but we haven’t put it together consistently,” Donahoo said, whose side piled on 8.6 to 0.5 after the main break.

“Our third and fourth quarters were really good (on Saturday) and we were able to put the foot down and keep going.

“I haven’t seen a winning margin like that for a long time here.”

Warrandyte’s third-quarter charge was led by Jack Wilson in attack – with a half-time chat sparking the livewire.

“Jack’s had been a little bit off with his cleanness … but we actually spoke at half-time and said ‘Mate, you’ve got this’, and he came out and kicked three in the third (quarter), and took some really good marks,” Donahoo said.

“He was just clean with the footy, he’s got really good goal-sense, and he’s a good overhead mark for his size.

“His two brothers (Mitch and Harvey) were pretty good, too.”

Josh Appleby and Koby Gilmour kicked two majors apiece, and while Donahoo admitted picking the best players was a head-scratcher in an even contribution, the forwards and backs earned a special mention.

“I thought our forward line really functioned well – Josh Beasley didn’t kick a goal but played his role, Koby is only a young kid and comes in and has an impact, and Oscar Hodgson keeps doing it,” he said.

“I thought the boys down back set up well – Zak Carroll played off half-back today and it was something different for him, and Lukas Fellows’ leadership down there just allowed them to set up, rebound and pump it back to our end.”

The result lifted Warrandyte to a 3-4 record at the mid-season break, denying the Bullants the same spot in the four, who now slump to 2-5.

Donahoo said the victory would fill his players with “real confidence” heading into a clash with the second-placed Whitehorse Pioneers in a fortnight.

“In an even comp, you’re going to lose a few, and when we went to 0-4, the heads drop a bit, and it’s hard mentally … but a win like today, you go in, sing the song, the music’s going, it’s relief, but also excitement,” he said.

“We spoke at half-time about enjoying what we’re doing – you come to play to win games of footy but you come to enjoy it.

“The boys really enjoyed that second half – you look at our first half and we were pretty flat, and in the second half we got around each other and celebrated.

“It makes this time of day extra special.”