EFNL Division 2 2024: Ringwood keeps finals hopes alive with upset of Waverley Blues
Ringwood’s finals hopes remain alive after a crucial upset win catapulted it into the Division 2 top five. And with a swag of guns eyeing a return, the scene is set for a fierce race in the run home.
Eastern
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It was arguably Ringwood’s most important win yet.
A 36-point upset of the second-placed Waverley Blues on Saturday catapulted the Redbacks into the Eastern league Division 2 top five – with a healthy percentage edge on its rivals in the run home.
Sitting fifth with a 7-6 record ahead of Mulgrave – which has a game in hand this weekend – a 30 per cent advantage separates the pair.
The Redbacks banked just one win – by a point – in their four matches prior to the weekend.
“We addressed how important the game was in regards to our season, with Mulgrave being a game ahead … we had to make sure we stayed in touch (with the top five),” Ringwood senior coach Brett Rowe said.
“Even though we had been up and down, when we’ve been OK, we’ve been pretty good but just trying to get consistency across the board is the biggest challenge at the moment.”
Just one game currently separates third (Croydon) from sixth (Mulgrave) on the ladder – Ringwood’s percentage of 115.18 dwarfing the sixth-placed Lions’ measure (85.40).
But Mulgrave, on equal points, plays a winless The Basin this weekend while the Redbacks have a bye.
“Our percentage is going to play a big part in it – if we can stay in touch, hopefully it’ll have a say in where we finish,” Rowe said.
With just a combined four goals kicked to three-quarter time in Saturday’s 7.13 (55) to 2.7 (19) victory, the coach conceded Saturday’s match “wasn’t a spectacle”, but lauded a defensive effort aimed to slow the Blues’ ball movement.
Josh Meerkotter chopped and changed between wing and forward for two goals, while Jeremy Broad bobbed up with three of the Redbacks’ five unanswered final-quarter majors in his just third senior match this year.
Rowe said the Redbacks were set to regain a wealth of experience in the run home with Tim Jones, Jack Blyth and Harry George among those eyeing returns in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Ash Stagg hasn’t played all season, full-forward Jacob Williams last featured in Round 1 and co-captain Mitch Jackson is said to be three weeks away.
“We’re hopefully getting some blokes back after the bye – we’ve got 12 of our best out at the moment,” Rowe said.
“But what it (injuries) has done is it’s given opportunities to a lot of guys like Jeremy Broad and Jayger Hanlon Davis … guys that have played a few games but are now getting a good run at it.
“You can see their confidence growing, and as much as you don’t want injuries, sometimes it’s a blessing for your team.”
Rowe was under no illusion a “tough” run home awaited, pitted against Croydon, Lilydale, The Basin, Mulgrave and reigning premier Boronia.
“As it (the ladder) stands, three of the top five in front of us,” Rowe said.
“If we get there (finals), it’s going to be very well deserved.”
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