NFL 2018: Whittlesea out to make history in reserves grand final

HISTORY beckons for Whittlesea this weekend as its reserves side vies for the club’s first piece of Division 1 silverware.

HISTORY beckons for Whittlesea this weekend as its reserves side vies for the club’s first piece of Division 1 silverware.

While the Eagles will be relegated to Northern Football League Division 2 next year, their reserves qualified directly for the grand final with a major semi-final victory over minor premier West Preston-Lakeside.

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Whittlesea has claimed three second tier senior flags since 2010.

It most recent reserves premiership came in 1999, while it has also enjoyed under-19 success three times in the NFL era.

However, a Division 1 flag has proven elusive and remains one of the holes in the trophy cabinet at Whittlesea Showgrounds.

“No matter what you do, you put three sides in each week and you want all three to do well,” football manager Jamie Russell said.

“Naturally the seniors are first, the seconds and the 19s. Whatever it is, it’s still part of the Whittlesea footy club.

“We are very excited by it all.”

Ruckman Jeremy Page is one of the veterans who has helped Whittlesea qualify for the Division 1 reserves grand final. Picture: Angie Basdekis.

Whittlesea finished third on the reserves ladder at the end of the regular season with a 12-6 record, defeating Greensborough by 15 points and West Preston-Lakeside by 30 points to reach this weekend’s decider.

“All the boys are up and about. Like you said, it’s history,” Russell said.

“It would be a great way to cap it off.”

The Eagles seconds only won three games last year, “struggling for numbers” for much of the campaign.

But a decision to elevate five players still eligible for under-19s has proven a masterstroke.

Rising star Christian Prestopino has been the pick of the bunch, kicking 52 goals from 18 games to lead the division’s goalkicking.

“There’s at least 8-9 there that will definitely step up to senior football,” Russell said.

A mix of young talent and club stalwarts such as Jeremy Page and Brent Toll has transformed Whittlesea into a premiership contender.

The Eagles will face Bundoora in Saturday’s grand final after it defeated West Preston-Lakeside by 13 points on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Whittlesea has spoken with more than 10 candidates for its vacant senior coaching job after Jim Atkins stepped down following three years at the helm.

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