Highett upsets Doveton Eagles to win the Southern league Division 2 premiership
THE Bulldogs were the underdogs but they produced an outstanding performance to defeat Doveton Eagles in the Division 2 grand final in the Southern league.
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THE Bulldogs were the underdogs.
But Highett completed one of the fairytale seasons of the Southern Football Netball League on Saturday when it won the Division 2 premiership against hot favourites Doveton Eagles at the Jack Barker Oval in Cheltenham.
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The match was played in testing conditions and produced a remarkable final score of 7.22 (64) to 4.16 (40).
The teams couldn’t be split at half time and just a point separated them at the final change, but the young Bulldogs enjoyed their finest moment in the last quarter to win the grand final and earn promotion to Division 1.
The Doggies registered 11 straight behinds before posting their first goal of the game late in the opening term.
With 15 scoring shots (2.13) to five (1.5) at quarter-time, it looked as though the red, white and blues may have kicked themselves out of it.
They persisted, and although they surrendered the lead midway through the final quarter, the last 15 minutes belonged entirely to Highett.
What a turnaround for the club.
Late last season Highett was battling relegation and midway through this year the odds of the tykes from Turner Road winning the premiership would have been generous, with the Eagles, Murrumbeena and Keysborough more fancied.
But Sam Hecker’s team continued to mature and improve, and Saturday’s ultimate success was a testament to its belief.
“It’s a fantastic feeling,” Hecker fizzed after the game.
“We believed we had the game plan and the desire to win to take it off.
“At three-quarter time we thought we had the legs and we backed our ourselves to win the ball on the outside.”
It was a sharp contrast to their second semi-final clash two weeks earlier when the Eagles won easily.
“They broke our tackles that day but today we won the contested footy,” Hecker, a veteran of premierships with St Bedes Mentone and a respected mentor of young footballers, said.
“We played man-on-man footy and it made a difference.”
As well as a winning midfield, the Doggies’ back six were superb, with Yianni Pasialis’s outstanding job on dangerous forward Russell Robertson a highlight.
The veteran goalkicker was held to one behind for the day. Prolific Doveton Eagles goalscorer Darren Sheen found the goals only once.
For a team that has repeatedly kicked cricket scores this season, the Eagles’ failure to hit the scoreboard when it mattered cost them dear and was a tribute to the planning and execution by the Bulldogs, who, according to Hecker, will have plenty offer in the top division.
“We’re still a young side and we’re still learning,” he said.
“We recruited a few key players this season like Ed Turner and the O’Neill boys and we’ll do what is necessary to be competitive in Division 1.”
Skipper Tom Brown took out the Menielly Medal for best-afield, but it could have gone to seven or eight Doggies.
Charlie and Harry O’Neill were always dangerous, while the one-percenters of Pat Singh, Sam Jackson and Chris Langdon set the example. Brett Collins and Mark Short were worthy contributors too.
For the disappointed Eagles, the opportunity to make SFNL history as the first team to win successive flags in different divisions to reach Division 1 was lost.
For three-and-a-half quarters, while not at their best, the Eagles were still always a chance, with Mick Callinan, Trav Graeske, Jarrod O’Neill, Nick Battle and Matt Neve keeping them in the match.
For former Melbourne star Robertson, it may be a disappointing way to end a great career.
“We didn’t show up today,” he said.
“We’re a very talented team but that’s what happens in grand finals sometimes if you don’t bring your best game on the day.
“We rushed ourselves today. We’ve got a lot of power up forward but we weren’t able to deliver it today as well as we have all season.
“I think the weight of hot favouritism can have an effect and I believe that playing only one game in a month hurt us.
“But there are no excuses, at the end of the day, you’ve got to come to a grand final and be ready to play.
“I think some of our younger players will learn from today and will be better for it.
“It was our worst game for the year and we’re bitterly disappointed, but if we stick together, we’ll be all right. Our reserves won and we’ve got some great young talent coming through.”
On his own playing future, Robinson hinted it could be the end.
“I’ll be 40 in a month — it may be the end, but we’ll see,’’ he said.
“I’ve had a great journey in footy and have loved every minute of it.”
The Eagles found some consolation in their reserves, who defeated Murrumbeena by 24 points.
The Division 1 preliminary final was just as tense and tight, with East Malvern nosing out Mordialloc by three points, 7.6 (48) to 6.9 (45), at Springvale Reserve to go through to the decider.
Former Vermont champion Ryan Mullett was best-afield, standing out with his sharp skills in trying conditions.
Lucas Hall, Jack Waterston and Port Melbourne VFL ruckman were also influential as East Malvern earned another shot at St Paul’s East Bentleigh in the grand final.
Tom Curry, Nathan Evans (three goals), Matt Moore and Matt Spohn did best for the Bloodhounds, who also lost the reserve grade preliminary final, to Port Melbourne Colts.
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