EFNL Premier Division: South Croydon through to preliminary final

South Croydon is one win from a third top-flight decider in five years after turfing Doncaster East from the flag race. And the coach says his group is embracing underdog status ...

It’s one win from a third grand final in five years.

South Croydon will meet Noble Park in the preliminary final this Saturday following a 14-point victory over Doncaster East at Glen Waverley’s Central Reserve.

Sunday’s 13.7 (85) to 10.11 (71) result spells the end of Doncaster East’s maiden top-flight finals campaign.

It was dealt a double-blow with the late withdrawal of four-time WAFL flag midfielder Josh Deluca and a hand injury to key forward Sam Rowe, who left the field in the second term.

Doncaster East’s Sam Rowe left the field early through injury. Picture: Geoff Klep

The Bulldogs led by seven points at the half before a four-goal-to-none third term set the Lions a 29-point deficit to overcome in the last.

South Croydon senior coach Marcus Buzaglo credited his midfield’s supply into forwards James Wilsen (five goals) and Tom Sheridan (three) in the third-quarter surge.

While Doncaster East ruckman Zac Clarke (two goals) seemed unstoppable in the middle, Buzaglo believes counterpart Max King won the battle around the ground.

Clarke (second left) couldn’t be stopped at centre bounces, South Croydon coach Marcus Buzaglo says. Picture: Geoff Klep

“I think we always looked dangerous in front of the ball,” Buzaglo said.

“Jim Wilsen and Tom Sheridan forward of the ball were always looking dangerous, I thought if we could get enough supply, we could always hit the scoreboard

“Max was enormous but Zac Clarke was really good as well.

“He (Clarke) is a quality ruckman, centre clearances (was a focus), we tried a lot of different things and methods to try and stop him but we weren’t able to do that – they dominated that area.

“But around the ground Max was great for us, we evened the clearance numbers up around the ground but they certainly got us at centre bounce.

“They’re a really strong contested side, conditions probably suited them but we were able to overcome that.”

Matt Jones stood out for the Bulldogs on the wing with a best afield performance, in just his second game in a month following a hamstring issue.

“He was enormous,” Buzaglo said.

“He needed the run last week, there’s no doubt about that, and he spent the day on the far wing and just got better as the game went on.

“He’s really professional and been really diligent in his rehab to get back from a couple of hamstring injuries.”

Matt Jones finished best afield from the wing. Picture: Geoff Klep

South Croydon won the 2017 flag against Vermont, before falling to the powerhouse in the ‘18 grand final.

It’s in undeniable form in its fourth consecutive finals campaign, having won eight matches in a row as it shoots for a third decider in five years.

The Bulldogs finished third at the end of the season and take on a Noble Park outfit which placed second and fell to minor premier Rowville on Saturday.

Buzaglo said his group would embrace “underdog” status, in a match he expects the midfield battle to tell the tale.

“I think Noble and Rowville have clearly been the best two sides, and they (Noble Park) have been a good side for a long time,” he said.

“They’ve got finals experience, they bat pretty deep and they’ve got a really even spread.

“We go in as the underdogs, but it’s a title South Croydon really enjoys – we’re comfortable with that.”

South Croydon meets Noble Park in the preliminary final on Saturday, September 10, at Bayswater Oval, with the winner to meet Rowville in the grand final on September 17.