MPNFL: Mt Eliza upsets Frankston YCW to consolidate second spot in Division 1

Mt Eliza coach Steve Brattle says his side received a shot of confidence after halting Frankston YCW’s 15-game winning streak in MPNFL Division 1.

Mt Eliza coach Steve Brattle said his side was prepared for Frankston YCW. Picture: Valeriu Campan

It wasn’t pretty but Mt Eliza beat Frankston YCW on Saturday.

The Redlegs’ 28-point win in wet, slogging conditions at Madsen Reserve ended Frankston YCW’s 15-game winning streak and breathed new life into the premiership race.

The cup is well and truly up for grabs with finals starting next week.

“It’s disappointing the way we played and it’s a bit of a wake up call for us which is good,” a philosophical Frankston YCW coach Paul Goonan said.

“It gives us something to work on definitely.”

Mt Eliza led at each change before banking its 12th win, 7.9 (51) to 3.5 (23), in the penultimate round of the season.

Asked how his side pulled off the win, Mt Eliza coach Steve Brattle said: “Just a bit of effort, mate. They came and brought it to us physically last time and we didn’t respond well, so we were prepared.”

Finlay Bayne on the move for Mt Eliza.

Fin Bayne had 40 possessions to be a stand-out for Mt Eliza, first in for the ball and attacking it with gusto.

Star Redleg Nathan Scagliarini had 36 touches and kicked the sealer and Declan Cole played a great game, though Brattle said “everyone pulled their weight” in the tough conditions.

Andy Wright did an excellent job in the ruck, he and Max Mourney taking it up to YCW big man Bailey Schmidt.

The game was delayed for 30 minutes at the end of the first quarter when an electrical storm, with lightning, approached.

Torrential rain fell, covering the oval in water.

“It was the weirdest day I’ve ever experienced,” Brattle said.

Goonan agreed: “There was hail, rain and lightning. The ground was shaking with the thunder.”

Mt Eliza ruckman Max Mourney.

Only Dromana and now Mt Eliza have managed to beat Frankston YCW this season and Brattle said his side takes a lot of belief out of the win.

“It’s a real positive,” he said.

“It gives our boys a bit of belief.

“They don’t need much to get motivated. And young fellas with motivation can do lots of things.”

Frankston YCW is three games clear on top of the ladder with one round to go and Goonan said his side would regroup and continue its march to finals.

“We’re a bit lucky we’re sitting pretty on top but it’s just disappointing the way we played,” Goonan said.

“We just didn’t adapt to the conditions at all…they were better at it.

“We had a few sore boys who were injured and didn’t play. If it was a grand final they would have. But we didn’t risk any of those guys who were sore.”

YCW’s Tom Baker, who came up from the reserves, suffered a shoulder injury.

Frankston YCW hosts bottom side Edi-Asp in Round 18 on Saturday, while Mt Eliza takes on Pines, at Pines.

Ladder: Frankston YCW 60, Mt Eliza 48, Bonbeach 48, Dromana 44, Frankston Bombers 36, Pines 34, Sorrento 32, Red Hill 26, Rosebud 8, Edi-Asp 4.

Round 18: Dromana v Bonbeach, Frankston YCW v Edi-Asp, Frankston Bombers v Rosebud, Pines v Mt Eliza, Red Hill v Sorrento.