MPFNL Division 2: Pearcedale loses to Devon Meadows but nabs finals berth

Pearcedale’s post-match debrief took a dramatic twist on Saturday as the Dales found out they’d made the MPFNL Division 2 finals.

Pearcedale players will prepare for a finals tilt in MPFNL Division 2. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Peter Bastinac thought he’d experienced every emotion during a 30-year coaching career but Saturday was a whole new kettle of fish.

Playing for a finals berth, Bastinac’s Pearcedale side was thrashed by Devon Meadows, 19.10 (124) to 9.14 (68), in the last round of the Mornington Peninsula league Division 2 season.

The Dales had done their dash, or so it seemed.

After trudging off the ground, Pearcedale’s players were told they’d made the top five, courtesy of Tyabb’s upset win over Crib Point.

Finals, here we come...

“It was certainly a weird feeling,” Bastinac said.

“It felt like a draw.”

Pearcedale coach Peter Bastinac. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Bastinac had to think on his feet straight after the game — he had to deal with “a bad loss’’ but also pick up his players and start getting ready for next week.

“We had to debrief a bit of a bad loss and then just say, ‘hang on boys, we’re still playing’, which was great news but just a bit of weird feeling,” he said.

Pearcedale will meet Somerville in the elimination final this Sunday.

Rival sides didn’t want the Dales to make the five because they see them as a threat, with the likes of Ryan Bastinac, Brett Eddy, Tom Schneider and co.

Bastinac’s task will be to rekindle his side’s form, and fast.

“I think this is the most open finals series there has been,” Bastinac said.

“I mean Edithvale are in the box seat obviously. They’ve got a fit list and the week off. They’re really well placed I think. Anyone in that top five is capable and we’re one of them. If we get back to our best footy we’ll be hard to beat also. That will be our plan.”

Jayden Sullivan.

Nathan Drew.

Devon Meadows appears to be hitting their stride at the right time.

Paddy Ryder kicked four goals on Saturday in his fourth game back from a two-month lay off.

“He’s starting to get up and about and take a heap of marks again so it’s going to make us a better side,” Devon Meadows coach Ryan Hendy said of Ryder.

Riley Simmons, Joel Hillis, Jayden Sullivan and Ryan Koo were also among Devon’s best players on Saturday.

A barnstorming Somerville has grabbed a finals berth with a dominant win in the last round on Saturday.

The Eagles thrashed Hastings 16.25 (121) to 7.8 (50) to climb from sixth to fourth, having won eight of their last nine games.

Lachlan Haskett, Kai Suparta, Luke Burton, Joel Vincent and Mason de Wit were in mint form for the Eagles.

MPFNL Division 2 finals:

Saturday, August 17: Qualifying final: Chelsea v Devon Meadows, at Rye.

Sunday, August 18: Elimination final: Somerville v Pearcedale, at Chelsea.