MPFNL: Scott Pendlebury’s words help brother Kris win local footy flag
Kris Pendlebury has revealed the part his famous brother Scott played in Edithvale-Aspendale’s stirring MPFNL premiership.
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Edithvale-Aspendale was on an 18-game winning streak.
But coach Kris Pendlebury knew his Eagles needed to go to another level to beat arch rivals Chelsea in the MPFNL Division 2 grand final.
So, last week, Kris asked his brother, Collingwood premiership star Scott, for a favour.
“Can you come and talk to the club,” he enquired.
Scott made his way to Regents Park in Aspendale and addressed the entire club — footballers and netballers — driving home three key messages.
“To hear it from someone like him at the top level was important,” Kris said.
“The messaging is very simple and we took a few themes out of that chat.
“One was stay level, don’t get too high emotionally, don’t get too low emotionally.
“Valuing time and this opportunity, they (grand finals) don’t come around too often.
“And the last one was literally whatever it takes to get it done, you have to do it.
“It was just a great sounding board to come from him.
“We had the whole club up there and I think it held us in good stead today.”
On Saturday, Edithvale-Aspendale won the seniors and reserves football grand finals and three netball flags.
The Eagles nest was rocking.
Edi-Asp’s gripping five-point win over Chelsea — the Eagles’ 19th successive win — was all “heart and ticker”, according to Pendlebury.
Edi-Asp had to play two men short for the last 20 minutes after Tyrone Vickery and Ishak Bashir were sent off for indiscretions early in the last quarter.
Chelsea hit the front after a goal by Jack Francis. The Seagulls seemingly had loose players all over the park.
But the Eagles, faced with their biggest challenge all season, found a way to fight back, kicking two goals to snatch a famous victory, 11.16 (82) to 11.11 (77).
It was Edi-Asp’s first senior premiership in 11 years and completed a fairytale debut season as coach by “Kritter’’ Pendlebury.
“Never in my wildest dreams when I took the job did I think we’d achieve this,’’ Pendlebury said.
“I had ambitions to think we were good enough to play finals but I think we just got better and better as the year went on, guys improved. And when you get that buy in from the group and everyone feels valued and included, it’s a powerful thing.
“And they’re so close as a group.
“We are genuinely 22 mates out there. Our connection and togetherness is a real weapon for us and I think it shone through today.’’
Edi-Asp’s reserves made it back-to-back premierships when they beat 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.
More pics from Saturday:
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