MPFNL Division 2: Edi-Asp beats Chelsea to book grand final berth

Kris Pendlebury talks about his players, “that’’ winning streak and the club people who’ve set a “great foundation’’ after steering Edithvale-Aspendale into the MPFNL Division 2 grand final.

Edi-Asp playing-coach Kris Pendlebury has led the Eagles to 18 wins in a row and into the MPFNL Division 2 grand final. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Always striving to get better.

It’s a motto Kris Pendlebury lives by and he’s used it in his fledgling coaching career at Edithvale-Aspendale this season.

In the moments after the Eagles won their 18th game in a row on Saturday, beating Chelsea to secure a spot in the MPFNL Division 2 grand final, he had a clear message for his players: The job’s not done.

“We’ve just qualified, that’s all we’ve done so far,” Pendlebury said.

“The messaging was, ‘we’ve got one more win to go and we have to prepare and get better in two weeks time’.

“We have to get better to face whoever we will and that will require our best to get the job done so that’s the focus the next two weeks.”

Nick Carlon.

Alex Browne.

Edi-Asp stunned Chelsea with a six-goal-to-one opening quarter, including the first four goals of the game, in the second semi-final at Rye.

Pendlebury said his Eagles were like a coiled spring, bursting to play after a week off.

“All week the boys weren’t anxious but there was a lot of nervous energy,’’ he said.

“They just wanted to get out and play...I could feel in the rooms before the game they were switched on and ready.’’

Chelsea, though, is a quality side and fought back to get within nine points of the Eagles in the third quarter after goals by Anthony Beale and Jack Wallace.

But the Eagles responded to boot clear again, with Ishak Bashir, Michael Meehan (four goals) and Kurt Lopo (three) instrumental in the 14.9 (93) to 10.10 (70) victory.

Edithvale-Aspendale’s reserves and under-19s also booked grand final berths in a great day for the club.

Pendlebury said his “overriding” emotion on Saturday night was pride.

“I’m just proud of the whole club,” he said.

His first season as a senior coach has been nothing short of spectacular to this point.

After starting with a loss (to Chelsea on Good Friday in April), the Eagles have gone on a sustained winning streak.

Pendlebury has led from the front, too, with several best-on-ground performances in the past six weeks.

It’s only enhanced the Eagles’ players admiration for him; there’s nothing they wouldn’t do for their coach — if he asked them to run through a brick wall they would — and it shows on game day.

Pendlebury says he’s been fortunate to take charge of a talented, hungry outfit.

“Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d lose on Good Friday and then we’d end up in a grand final without losing a game,” he said.

“I mean, I’m very fortunate to walk into a club that’s very well run off the field, very well resourced.

Mark Fitcher in his runners gear on Saturday night.

“Verity Connellan, in her first year as president, has done an amazing job. Blokes like Reesy (footy manager Gary Rees), Fitchy (Mark Fitcher) our runner, there’s a group who’ve been there for decades and set a great foundation and I’m very lucky to be in this position. A lot of those people will get the credit when it’s all said and done.”

Edi-Asp’s last senior premiership was in 2013.

Chelsea will look to bounce back from the defeat in next weekend’s preliminary final.