MPNFL 2021: Chelsea leads all the way to beat Seaford in Division 2

An MPNFL football side that cancelled training and went to the pub has pulled off a rousing victory.

Curtis Bywater was one of Chelsea’s best players on Saturday. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Righto, boys. Tuesday night training is...at the pub.

The message from Chelsea coach James Brain went out to Seagulls players early last week in the wake of their deflating loss to Pearcedale.

And so, instead of a gruelling night on the training track, Chelsea players headed to The Cove Hotel in Patterson Lakes for “a feed and a few beers”.

It did the trick.

On Saturday, the rejuvenated Seagulls stunned the in-form Seaford with a rousing all-the-way 21-point win at Chelsea Reserve, 13.5 (83) to 8.14 (62).

Chelsea’s pressure was immense as it jumped Seaford in the opening quarter, kicking six goals to rush to a 23-point lead at the first change.

Brain led from the front with four goals before half-time as the Seagulls played with a newfound determination.

The brilliant Jack Francis kicked five goals and had plenty of the footy, while Todd Gardiner was awarded the Anzac Medal after an inspirational display in the midfield.

Curtis Bywater also featured prominently in the win.

Chelsea coach James Brain. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Brain said his players needed to freshen up after an intense start to the season.

“I just wanted them to just have a beer and relax,” he said.

“There was just too much weight on their shoulders, they were probably trying too hard I think, we just had to relax a bit and get back to playing team footy.

“It was just a completely different footy side (on Saturday). It was great.”

Brain admitted his new “to the pub” game plan left some players stunned.

“Everyone was like, ‘what?’,” he said.

“I had a few team leaders say, ‘I think we should train’. I said, ‘no, we’re going to have a feed and a few beers (and) build a bit of camaraderie’.

“After the win on Saturday, Shaun Foster was like, ‘righto boys, back to the Cove on Tuesday’.

“I don’t think we’ll be going back for a while but it was funny.”

Brain said the feeling in the rooms the week before after losing to Pearcedale “was like the world had ended”.

He wanted a response from his men — and he got it.

“It was one of the best wins I’ve been involved in actually,” he said.

“It was a backs-against-the-wall situation and we got the job done.”

Chelsea, with two wins and two losses, hosts Somerville next Saturday.

But the Seagulls will be without the experienced Scott MacLeod , who tore his calf in Saturday’s win.

Seaford would have been disappointed not to make it three wins in a row. Ruckman Macklin Raine gave a dominant display all game and former Collingwood midfielder Tim Broomhead did some nice things including setting up young Joel Filippone for a long goal in the second quarter.