NFL 2018: Eltham moving on after shattering grand final defeat

ELTHAM coach Paul King discusses the impact of the club’s last-second grand final loss as the Panthers plot to go one better in 2019 after a string of re-signings.

PAUL King has conceded Eltham’s last-second grand final loss to Lower Plenty left him “shattered” and took several weeks to get over.

The Panthers finished three games clear at the end of the Northern Football League season and were 19 points in front at three-quarter-time of the decider against the goalless Bears.

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What unfolded in the last 30 minutes, including a matchwinning Ben Paterson goal for Lower Plenty on the final siren, was understandably difficult for Eltham and its coach to comprehend.

“What do you say? I was shattered,” King said.

“There’s no other way to look at it. We were all disappointed with the result and the club was disappointed.

“It took me a couple of weeks to get over it, but in the end, as I said to the boys after the game … life goes on.

“We were bitterly disappointed, but we have to get on with the job, reload and try and make amends.”

Eltham coach Paul King comforts his players on grand final day.

The Panthers have wasted no time locking away the key members of their squad for 2019 as they plot another premiership assault.

Former Collingwood midfielder Brent Macaffer, who was the Division 2 coaches MVP and finished third in the best and fairest count, headlines those who have recommitted for 2019.

Macaffer will take on additional responsibility next year as a playing assistant coach.

“His tackling is outstanding. Coming from the top level, his ball use, he doesn’t waste the ball very often,” King said.

“I haven’t seen anyone at a local level tackle like he does.

Brent Macaffer takes a hold of a Lower Plenty opponent during the NFL Division 2 grand final.

“He’s strong around the footy and in our semi-final he had 22 tackles or something like that.”

The return of Matthew Williamson will provide ruck support for developing big man Tom Evans and address a need the Panthers identified in their end-of-season reviews.

“That’s one area we are looking at,” King said.

“Apart from that, our under-19s, finished third, our reserves won it, there’s an abundance of young kids in those two teams that come through.”

King said Eltham expected to retain “97 per cent” of its list.

“They are all pretty keen to make amends for grand final day,” he said.

“It was fairly disappointing for the club, with all credit to Lower Plenty, which lifted and played really well on grand final day.”

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