Watsonia secures first win of NFNL Division 2 season in thrilling finish

After a heartbreaking one-point loss last week, Watsonia turned the tables and held on for a thrilling one-point win on Saturday, opening their NFNL Division 2 account.

Ethan Lowe celebrates a goal for Watsonia. Picture: Field of View Photography

From devastation to elation, seven days is a long time in footy.

After a heart-breaking one-point loss last week, Watsonia picked itself up off the canvas and revived its season on Saturday with a thrilling one-point win.

The Saints came from the clouds in the last quarter, then held off one last Lower Plenty surge to secure their first win of the NFNL Division 2 season at Binnak Park.

Ethan Lowe bagged seven goals in a best-on-ground performance, while at the other end, Ben Callaghan took game-saving marks at the death to seal a memorable 10.16 (76) to 11.9 (75) victory.

Adding to the special day, the club’s under-19s came from 41 points down early in the third quarter to stun Eltham 2 by 11 points at Central Park that morning.

Daniel Annetta celebrates a goal for Watsonia. Picture: Josh Chadwick

With his first win as Watsonia coach, Anthony McGregor said the result was felt by the entire club.

“It’s hot and cold, the elation compared to the disappointment is enormous,” McGregor said.

“Seven days later you win by a point and it’s an amazing feeling for the whole footy club.

“The supporters, the support crew, having the twos watching, some of the 19s had come back from Eltham after a good win.

“For the club environment to have that feeling – you get better attedennce, buy-in, better training, everything improves with just that one win, it’s the start of something.

“Then you go home after footy and you walk in the door and the kids ask ‘how’d you go’ and you tell them you won, the smiles on their faces is awesome – it filters through everything.”

Watsonia burst out of the blocks but kicked a wayward 3.7 to take a five-point lead at quarter-time.

Lower Plenty took control in the second term and went into half-time with a 10-point advantage.

The margin was just two points at three-quarter-time, setting up a grandstand finish.

The Bears looked like they’d done enough, leading by 12 points mid-way through the final term, but two goals in two minutes for Lowe turned the game on its head.

With under a minute remaining, Tyler Wallace had a shot from outside 50m but Callaghan marked on the goalline to save the day.

McGregor said it showed what a four-quarter performance could achieve.

“It was an amazing day, the way they put in they certainly wanted it, they wanted it more,” he said.

“It was almost a replica of last week but the opposite – we were 12 or 13 points up against Old Paradians and they did that to us.

“Jake (McSwain) was amazing all day and Benny, their intercept marks and sternness not to get beaten one-on-one.

“Then Lowey always looks threatening, he had a match-up that was in his favour so when we did roll and go and gave him a one-on-one opportunity he was too good.

“We had some brutal midfield battles, Dan (Annetta) and Boults (Josh Boulton) were relentless all day up against some really good midfielders.

They probably played 85-95 per cent game time and a lot of that on ball, which was phenomenal, Nick (Lawson) was really good at the contest.

“We just had a lot more winners on the day and we didn’t have that lapse – we played four quarters for the first time – we’ve been in most games but been blown out of the water with a 15-minute lapse.”

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Lowe was named best-afield along with McSwain, Callaghan, Boulton, Annetta and Luke Whyte.

For Lower Plenty, Josh Turner, Riley Alexander, Seth Hill (four goals) and Felix Bell were the standouts.

The win revives Watsonia’s season, joining Thomastown on one win, while Panton Hill and Old Paradians each have two wins in what looms a four-way relegation race.

Elsewhere in Division 2, Diamond Creek continued its undefeated start to the season with a 76-point hammering of Thomastown and Macleod belted Northcote Park by 89.

St Mary’s eased past Old Paradians by 24 points and Whittlesea saw off Panton Hill by 36.