MPFNL 2023: Pearcedale snatches finals berth in Division 2

Pearcedale had to endure a five-hour wait before having its finals ticket punched in MPFNL Division 2. Coach Peter Bastinac explains why the wait will be worth it.

Pearcedale’s Jake Frawley has been in good form. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Pearcedale coach Peter Bastinac says the MPFNL Division 2 premiership race is wide open and his young Dales side can make plenty of noise from fifth spot.

Mornington and Karingal deservedly go into the finals as flag favourites after occupying the top two spots for most of the season.

But Bastinac is backing his in-form Dales, who have won six of their past seven games to qualify for their second straight finals campaign.

They beat Seaford by nine points on Saturday, but had to sweat on the outcome of the night match between Mornington and Edithvale-Aspendale at Frankston Park before celebrating.

A 20-point win by Mornington saw Edi Asp drop out of the top five, replaced by Pearcedale. At 9.30 on Saturday night, the Dales could finally celebrate.

“We had to wait a while,” a relieved Bastinac, who watched the night game online, said.

Ryan Bastinac.

Mitchell Davis. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bastinac believes this season’s flag “is anyones’’.

“It’s a pretty open five I reckon,’’ he said.

“If you bring your game you’re going to go okay.”

For a second straight year, Pearcedale will meet Devon Meadows in the elimination final.

The Dales beat Devon by 27 points in the do-or-die encounter last season and Bastinac believes the experience will stand his side in good stead for more finals success.

“Absolutely. Especially I’ve just noticed the maturity of a couple of youngsters in the last couple of weeks, their games are getting better, so it means we’ve got more depth across the park,’’ he said.

“We’ve all just got to play our roles now and see what happens.”

Bastinac said getting the match ups right against Devon Meadows was crucial ahead of the elimination final, to be played at Baxter Park on Sunday.

“I’ll certainly be looking at the opposition because I’ve got a lot of players to pick from which is good,” he said.

“I’ll try and match up the best I can with Devon and see how we go.”

Pearcedale coach Peter Bastinac. Picture: Valeriu Campan

There is a cloud over ex-AFL stars from both sides, with Pearcedale already ruling out Dayne Beams because of a quad injury while there is speculation that Paddy Ryder and Dean Kent are nursing injuries for Devon Meadows.

“Dayne won’t play,’’ Bastinac said.

“When he went to Tassie he got injured so he’ll miss this week but if we progress he should be a chance.’’

Bastinac coached Pearcedale to back-to-back premierships in 1995-96. He returned to the club last year and has steered the Dales to finals in both seasons.

“They’re a good young group and they’re responding,” he said.

“It’s good that they get another chance to play in a final.”

On Saturday, Pearcedale’s youngsters stood up in the 11.13 (79) to 10.10 (70) win over Seaford. Will Dalgleish kicked two goals, while Finn Jakstas, Kian Benwell and Ben Duncan were named in the best.

“The kids really showed some good signs of maturity,’’ Bastinac said.

“They really stood up. There wasn’t a heavy reliance on Ryan (Bastinac) and Jordy (Bastinac) and Kaolan (Thornton) and Frawls (Jake Frawley).’’