EFNL Division 3: Warrandyte edges Fairpark for first win of season

Warrandyte is on the board for 2023, holding off Fairpark in a seesawing final term in Division 3 on Saturday ...

WARRANDYTE has broken through for its first win of the season in the Eastern league’s Division 3, holding off Fairpark in a seesawing final term on Saturday.

The Bloods’ 10.8 (68) to 9.8 (62) victory ends a run of four consecutive losses to open this year’s campaign following a preliminary final berth last season.

Warrandyte led narrowly at all breaks – including by a kick at the final change after a goalless third quarter.

A late Lions charge sowed the seeds of doubt after narrow losses to Silvan and Donvale had marred the Bloods’ opening month – but the hosts weren’t to be denied this time, with Quinn Clark’s third major proving the matchwinner in the dying stages.

Warrandyte’s Quinn Clark (right) kicked the winner. Picture: George Salpigtidis

Warrandyte senior coach Paul Donahoo recalled the heart-stopping finish.

“We kicked the first three goals of the last quarter and we were out by 25 points … it was like it was all coming together,” Donahoo said.

“Then all of a sudden Fairpark kicked four goals in 10 minutes and it was around the 25-minute-mark we were a point down but at that stage I was unsure of what I could say if we dropped it.

“We had a shot on goal and kicked a point (to draw even) and we got a free kick 25 metres out directly in front and kicked a goal.

“When it happened it was pure relief.”

Gun recruit Kieran Malone finished best on ground, capping off his performance with a “Leo Barry-style” mark at the death according to the coach – his exploits damaging in midfield, forward and defensive roles.

“We gave him a bit of a licence because he’s got a smart footy brain and he’s probably played a little bit within himself in the first couple of weeks,” Donahoo said.

“He put together one of the better quarters of local footy I’ve seen, in the first quarter yesterday.”

Donahoo said each loss in the opening month had yielded positives, and was hopeful Saturday’s breakthrough would build momentum, similar to Ferntree Gully of last season.

The 2022 Eagles went winless from their first eight games before winning six of the last seven.

“Hopefully it’s the monkey off the back type of scenario because there’s been patches, but we just needed that win and the confidence and hopefully we got it,” Donahoo said.

“What we’ve been talking about is, it’s nearly more frustrating to know that we can do it than just being poor because we’ve shown glimpses.

“Everyone puts us up against up against Ferntree Gully of last year and they just needed that win to go on with it.”

There’s been no question about the buy-in of the group, Donahoo says, which faces second-placed Ferntree Gully next weekend.

“We’ve had a couple of pretty honest chats, but the best thing was there was probably three or four blokes under an injury cloud (on Saturday) and they basically said ‘I’m playing’, because it’s too important.”

Warrandyte 3.2 6.5 6.6 10.8 (68)

Fairpark 3.1 4.4 5.6 9.8 (62)

Warrandyte

Goals:

Q. Clark, L. O’Brien 3, R. Phillips 2, K. Malone, A. Brovedani

Best:

K. Malone, N. Brooking, J. Beasley, A. Brovedani, L. O’Brien, J. Kennedy

Fairpark

Goals:

M. Platten, B. Gilling 3, J. Waldon, D. Bent, B. Dadswell

Best:

J. Want, S. Raru, K. Hird, J. Allison, O. Sharpe, M. Platten