EFNL Division 1 2024: Jake Parente kicks six as Mitcham stuns South Belgrave in qualifying final

A bag of goals from a seasoned finals performer has spearheaded Division 1 reigning premier Mitcham into a showdown with arguably its biggest flag threat.

EFNL 2024: Jake Parente celebrates a goal in Mitcham's QF win over Sth Belgrave. Picture: Leesa Clarkson

A bag of goals from seasoned finals performer Jake Parente has spearheaded reigning premier Mitcham into a semi-final showdown with arguably its biggest flag threat.

Parente fired off six majors in the Tigers’ 12.3 (75) to 5.19 (49) defeat of South Belgrave in Saturday’s qualifying final, setting up a third bout this season with minor premier Park Orchards this weekend.

Holding the inaccurate Saints goalless for a half on Saturday, Mitcham shot to a 35-point quarter-time lead before extending the margin to 44 by the main break.

Mitcham coach Neil Winterton said his side’s pressure did South Belgrave’s goalkicking no favours, as the Saints registered 0.12 to half-time.

“It was our first half that really set up the win and in particular that first quarter – we were able to be very damaging when we were able to get the ball forward, understanding that (defender) Brody Connelly being a late out for South Belgrave was big,” Winterton said.

“Our movement into our forward line was really good, we gave our forwards plenty of space and some good one-on-one opportunities.

“They (South Belgrave) missed a couple of set-shots … but there were some scrappy snaps out of the pack and shots from pretty wide angles under pressure.”

EFNL 2024: Mitcham defenders battle South Belgrave's Tim Smith. Picture: Leesa Clarkson

Winterton said Parente was the beneficiary of the Tigers’ wide-open forward line.

“He benefitted from some space inside the forward 50 and the delivery to him was pretty good, but he’s a really difficult match-up for the opposition,” he said.

“We know he’s a weapon for us and if we feel if we can get the ball to him he’s going to be very dangerous.

“He loves the finals and the big stage.”

But the three-time premiership coach’s biggest shout was reserved for best-afield Jesse Cherry, who provided plenty of drive and defensive pressure through the midfield.

“He’s had an incredible year,” Winterton said.

“I’m still baffled as to how he didn’t make the Team of the Year last year.

“He’d been a bit banged up for the last month of the season and we just decided to rest him last week to freshen him up – and that paid dividends.”

The Tigers fell to top-of-the-table Park Orchards by 69 points in the final home-and-away match.

Despite the game’s dead-rubber status, the coach said it was imperative his group bounced back against South Belgrave.

“We were very disappointed with our performance last week and it’s always a little bit of a tricky one that last game of the year – there wasn’t anything really on the line for us … that top-three spot had been sewn up,” Winterton said.

But a grand final berth rides on this Saturday’s clash at Boronia’s Tormore Reserve – and the coach said his players took plenty from the Round 18 demolition.

“We hadn’t been taken apart like that for a long time so we’ll have to go to school on that. We’ll try and nullify their ball-movement which is really crisp … they’ve had an outstanding season,” Winterton said.

Meanwhile, Beaconsfield will play South Belgrave in a do-or-die semi on Sunday after it eliminated Montrose from the flag race with a 50-point win.

South Belgrave 0.3, 0.12, 1.13, 5.19 (49)

Mitcham 6.2, 9.2, 11.3, 12.3 (75)