MPFNL Division 2: Two players down but Edithvale-Aspendale rally to win flag

Tyrone Vickery was sent off as Edithvale-Aspendale played two short for the last 20 minutes of the MPFNL Division 2 grand final. But the Eagles rallied to score a famous victory. Coach Kris Pendlebury explains how they did it. And a gallery of pics...

Edithvale-Aspendale coach Kris Pendlebury and captain Nick Carlon lift the MPFNL Division 2 premiership cup. Picture: Valeriu Campan

A crazy minute threatened to wreck Edithvale-Aspendale’s dream season at Frankston Park on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles led Chelsea by two points at the 10 minute mark of the last quarter in the MPFNL Division 2 grand final when Tyrone Vickery was reported for headbutting and red carded, his day done.

A minute later, Edi-Asp midfielder Ishak Bashir was also sent to the bench after being reported for front-on contact.

Edi-Asp were two men down with 20 minutes left — and Chelsea was coming quick.

Seconds later, Jack Francis put Chelsea four points up. Edi-Asp were swaying on the ropes.

Tempers flare in the last quarter.

Ishak Bashir is sent off.

How could the Eagles get out of this?

But they dug deep, with Colby Nayna and the brilliant Kurt Lopo kicking clutch goals — Edi-Asp prevailing 11.16 (82) to 11.11 (77) in an epic grand final and capping a brilliant season in which they won 19 games in a row to storm to the premiership.

Edi-Asp player-coach Kris Pendlebury and captain Nick Carlon were inspirational in the backline in the last quarter, standing tall to hold a rampaging Chelsea at bay.

Power midfielder Lewis Diggins, who won the medal for best afield, and speedster Reece Orchard were also crucial when the game was on the line.

Lewis Diggins pumps up his teammates after accepting the best-on-ground medal. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Vickery kicked four goals and was outstanding before his blunder.

Pendlebury, a premiership coach in his first season in the role, was bursting with pride for his players, describing the backs-against-the-wall effort as, “purely heart and ticker”.

He admitted he thought the premiership was slipping away when Vickery and Bashir were sent off.

“To be honest I probably did,’’ he said.

“We didn’t handle those few moments well.

“Tyrone went off, Bashir went off and I think we had a fifty after that which resulted in a goal and they had a lot of momentum.

“And I thought, shit, this is going to be hard with two men down and I think there was still 20 minutes to go.

“But I thought we settled well, the runners came out, communicated what we wanted to do. We still had six behind the footy and the forwards just had to really push up and then create space out the back and we were lucky enough to get two goals and eventually hold on in the end.

“I’m just extremely proud of the guys to be honest.’’

Edithvale-Aspendale celebrate their premiership victory. Picture: Valeriu Campan

The Eagles soar. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Time to celebrate. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Edi-Asp celebrate in the rooms. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Edi-Asp 2.3, 6.9, 8.10, 11.16 (82) d Chelsea 4.2, 5.4, 8.9, 11.11 (77).

Best:

Edi-Asp: Lewis Diggins, Tyrone Vickery, Kurt Lo Po, Steve Mannix, Kris Pendlebury.

Chelsea: Todd Gardiner, Jacob Spasevski, Jordan Kelly, Sam Dorevitch, jesse davies

Edithvale-Aspendale's reserves won the flag.

In a day to remember for Edi-Asp, their reserves also won the grand final, beating Seaford 4.11 (35) to 3.4 (22). Samuel Browne won the medal for best-on-ground, while Angus Macquire, Ryan Morris, Sam Moloney and Nick Connellan, who kicked two goals, were also in the best.

Seaford won the under-19s grand final, beating Edi-Asp 8.11 (59) to 8.4 (52). For Seaford, Lualweng Woul, Gus Kennedy, Bailey Mcindoe, Jack Guganovic and Patrick Marden were best.