EFNL Division 4: Surrey Park to contest first senior grand final since 1999
The Panthers battled through a four-year losing streak and a long finals drought, but they’ll contest their first senior decider in more than two decades this Sunday.
Eastern
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It’s been more than two decades in the making.
Surrey Park has qualified for its first senior grand final since 1999 following its 111-point drubbing of Chirnside Park in Sunday’s Eastern league Division 4 prelim.
The 22.15 (147) to 5.6 (36) result also marked the Panthers’ first finals win since 1999.
They’ll shoot for the club’s first senior flag when they meet Silvan in this Sunday’s decider – an opponent they’ve defeated in two of four meetings this season.
The occasion certainly isn’t lost on Surrey Park senior coach James Kenworthy and his group, which finished second on the ladder this season with a 12-4 record.
The club weathered a 67-game losing-streak which included four winless seasons from Round 17, 2008 to Round 1, 2013, collecting five consecutive wooden spoons from 2008-2012.
This year marks just its second finals campaign in 16 years, also qualifying in 2019 – its first finals appearance since 2006 – before suffering a first-week exit.
“It’s absolutely massive for the club,” Kenworthy said of Sunday’s result.
“All the supporters were ecstatic, there were plenty in the rooms after the game and it was just an amazing feeling.
“For the development boys as well to go through, it’s massive for the club next week.”
The Panthers led by 28 points at half time before slamming on 10.6 to 1.0 in the third term for an 88-point lead at the final change.
Renan Falahey led the charge with seven majors while Nicholas Kann kicked five, but the biggest praise was reserved for the midfield dominance after the main break, led by Ryan Kennedy.
“They (the midfield) really got on top in that third quarter … our forward line was pretty lively as well with ‘Kanny’ and Falahey, they were really up and about,” Kenworthy said.
“That first half was really tough … so it was a massive focus for our boys to come out strong and put the game on ice, really.”
Surrey Park will be looking to reverse a 27-point semi-final loss to Silvan in this Sunday’s decider.
The Panthers led by 19 points at the main break a fortnight ago before the Cats overran them in the second half.
Kenworthy is expecting the midfield battle to tell the tale this weekend.
“That third quarter (in the semi-final), their midfield got on top, but it is genuinely a midfield battle,” he said.
“Both backlines are pretty strong, so if we can get the ascendancy in the guts, that’ll go a long way.”
Surrey Park and Silvan meet at East Burwood Reserve this Sunday, September 4 in the Eastern league Division 4 grand final at 2.15pm.
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