EFNL Division 3: Oakleigh District overruns Whitehorse in final-quarter blitz

District coach Blake Pearson issued an impassioned plea to his players at the final change on Saturday – and they responded. Here’s how.

OAKLEIGH DISTRICT playing-coach Blake Pearson implored one final lift from his group – and it delivered in spades.

Trailing by 22 points deep into time-on in the third quarter, District rallied with a six-goal-to-one final term to sink the Whitehorse Pioneers, 17.13 (115) to 15.11 (101) in the Eastern league’s Division 3 on Saturday.

Pearson’s impassioned plea at three-quarter time centred on breaking his side’s growing trend of close losses this season, following a 15-point defeat to Ferntree Gully last round and a six-point loss to Fairpark in Round 2.

Answering the coach’s challenge, District hit the front by four points approaching time-on in the final term, courtesy of quick ball movement and a lift at the contest – and Pearson’s charges didn’t look back.

Pearson issued his side a challenge at three-quarter time on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“I basically said at three-quarter time that the last couple (of losses) we’ve got close and haven’t been able to push to get ahead,” Pearson said following the match.

“I put it on the players that we didn’t want to be known as the team that just gets close, we want to be a team that wins and trying to build winning habits and learning how to win games of football is something we’ve needed to do.

“To see that come to fruition in that last 15, 20 minutes was unreal.”

The Oaks rattled home with six goals to one in the last term. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Pearson shifted forward in the second half, bagging five majors alongside spearhead Zac Bozanich, while midfielder Andrew Webb took the honours for best-afield.

Charlie Thorn and Tom Young (five goals) finished among the Pioneers’ best.

“He was really strong in the contest,” Pearson said of Webb.

“He’s been trying to find his feet in the team of what his role is and in the last couple of weeks he’s really stood up.

“To see him build his game in particular in the clearances was really rewarding for the effort he’s been putting in.”

The Oaks and Pioneers contest the ball on Saturday. Picture: Davis Harrigan

Pearson says the victory could prove character-building for his group after snapping the run of tight losses.

“It was probably one of the hardest games, physically, I’ve played in … physically exhausting,” he said.

“I put it as almost season-defining, just the way we could come together.

“We’ve done a really good job at building as a club off-field and yesterday was a really big step for building our character and culture on-field.”

The result lifts Oakleigh District to a 3-3 record ahead of its clash with Silvan next round, while the Pioneers (2-4) are away to Warrandyte.

Whitehorse Pioneers 3.3 8.5 14.8 15.11 (101)

Oakleigh District FC 4.1 8.9 11.10 17.13 (115)

Whitehorse Pioneers

Goals:

T. Young 5, L. Thornton 3, J. Fabris 2, D. Horvat 2, L. McKay, T. Connell, H. Hogan

Best:

C. Thorn, L. Morando, L. Thornton, T. Young, E. Sim, J. Fabris

Oakleigh District FC

Goals:

B. Pearson 5, Z. Bozanich 5, A. Webb, R. Pearson, H. Heath, F. Bonacci, B. Hoe, C. Cochrane, S. Hawkins

Best:

A. Webb, D. Di Fede, Z. Bozanich, F. Bonacci, F. Connolly, R. Pearson