EFNL Premier Division: Noble Park through to first grand final since 2013

Noble Park will contest its first grand final in close to a decade after cruising past South Croydon in the Eastern league’s Premier Division.

NOBLE PARK will return to the big stage for the first time in close to a decade.

The Bulls qualified for the Eastern league Premier Division decider on Saturday, handing South Croydon a 67-point defeat in the preliminary final at Bayswater Oval.

The 17.16 (118) to 7.9 (51) win sends the club into its first senior grand final since 2013, setting up a date with Rowville next Saturday.

A six-goal-to-one second quarter turned a 12-point quarter-time advantage into an ominous 44-point lead at the main break as the Bulls proved the fresher of the two teams according to senior coach Steve Hughes.

The Bulls’ Anthony Marson tackles South Croydon’s Matt Jones. Picture: Mark Hillard

Noble Park had earned the week off at the start of the finals series while South Croydon came off a six-day break following its semi-final with Doncaster East at Central Reserve.

“In fairness to South, they’ve had to toil away a bit, coming off a six-day break, and Glen Waverley (Central Reserve) I saw first-hand was a bit of a heavy deck,” Hughes said.

“We’re reasonably fresh getting that break a couple of weeks ago and I think our midfield collectively, all of our players that went through the middle of the ground were excellent yesterday.

“Probably that extra bit of run in the legs told a bit of the tale in the end.”

The Bulls’ Harley Fairbank flies for a grab on Saturday. He finished with three goals. Picture: Mark Hillard

Ruckman Jack Beech stood out on star Bulldog Max King, leading a Bulls charge featuring Kyle Martin, Bailey Lambert, Ziggie Alwan and Chris Horton-Milne in the best.

“He (King) had to slug it out against (Doncaster East’s) Zac Clarke for four quarters on a heavy track last Sunday, come off a six-day break and I think he rucked for the best part of 100 per cent of the game against Blackburn the week before,” Hughes said.

“So we sort of had that in mind – we kept Jack Beech fresh and rotated him a couple of times each quarter with (Kieren) Byers which enabled him to get over the top.

“The by-product of that was our midfielders got first-use of the footy a bit.”

Hughes also praised key defender Ryan Morrison, who held competition leading-goalkicker James Wilsen to no majors.

Key defender Ryan Morrison held South Croydon’s James Wilsen goalless. Picture: Mark Hillard

“He was probably a bit narky with his performance the week before … he probably lost the battle against (Rowville’s) Lachlan Wynd the week before,” Hughes said.

“’Morro’ is a pretty proud footballer and I expected nothing less from him – he was outstanding.”

Noble Park and Rowville have met three times this year, with the Hawks winning each encounter.

The pair last met in the semi-final on September 3, with minor premier Rowville prevailing by 36 points to book its spot in the decider.

Hughes is under no illusions about the challenge ahead next weekend, but believes his group’s best footy “stacks up”, having finished the season second on the ladder.

“I just don’t think we’ve really been able to put it together (against Rowville) … that’s probably just a by-product of two things – them not allowing us to and probably some players being off for one reason or another,” he said.

“For us to get the win it’s going to be difficult but we just need all of our players to put it together on the day.

“Quite rightly it would be fair to say Rowville has been the best side this season, we’ve just got to be the best side on the day.”

Noble Park senior coach Steve Hughes. Picture: Mark Hillard

The achievement of guiding the club to its first senior grand final in almost a decade isn’t lost on Hughes, who took over as coach following the 2019 season.

But he heaped all the praise on the playing group.

“I’m just proud of them,” he said.

“I’m really lucky and I know it’s a bit cliché because most coaches say it, but they’re an outstanding group and they’re so coachable – I ask them to do something and they do it.

“It’s been a long journey, really difficult … but our group’s been fantastic.

“Like I said to them yesterday – I’m just proud of them that they’ve got what they deserve which is an opportunity to play in a grand final, because they’ve worked so bloody hard.”

Noble Park will meet Rowville in the Eastern league Premier Division grand final on Saturday, September 17, at Bayswater Oval at 2.15pm.

Noble Park 5.3 11.7 13.12 17.16 (118)

South Croydon 3.3 4.5 6.6 7.9 (51)

Goals:

Noble Park: Harley Fairbank, Bailey Lambert 3, Blake O’Leary, Ben Marson 2, Ziggie Alwan, Jordan Marson, Jackson Sketcher, Joshua Stern, Kyle Martin, Kieren Byers, Lachlan McDonnell

South Croydon: Tom Sheridan 3, Alex Birch, Robbie Mallison, Jordan Walker, Jordan Williams

Best:

Noble Park: Jack Beech, Kyle Martin, Bailey Lambert, Ryan Morrison, Ziggie Alwan, Chris Horton-Milne

South Croydon: Nick Evans, Matt Jones, Jordan Walker, Tom Sheridan, Daniel Cooper, Brayden Kilpatrick