Whittlesea produces one of the upsets of 2021, knocking off Montmorency

Whittlesea produced one of the upsets of the Northern Football League season, knocking off finals contender Montmorency in a thrilling final term.

Mitchell Andrews in action for Whittlesea. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Whittlesea produced one of the upsets of the NFL Division 1 season on Saturday, stunning Montmorency by three points.

Trailing by five points at the final change, Eagles coach Blair Harvey challenged his team to finish strongly and they responded.

“I just told the boys ‘this is a game we can win, how desperate are we to make sure we do’ and credit to them they fought hard,” Harvey said.

“We were 15 points in front with less than five minutes to go, they kicked two goals to get it back to three points but we were lucky enough to hold on.

“One area we’ve been poor in all year is we’ve leaked goals late in quarters but we were able to hold up, which was pleasing.

Paul Higgins in action for Whittlesea. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It’s been a long time between drinks for us.”

With the breeze at their back in the first quarter, Montmorency charged out to a 25-point lead before Whittlesea responded with 6.6 in the second term to make it a three-point game at half-time.

The second half became a shootout as the wind dropped at Montmorency Park but it was enough to guide Whittlesea home in a thrilling finish.

The 15.17 (107) to 15.14 (104) upset ensures the Eagles avoid the wooden spoon and puts a major dent in the Magpies’ finals hopes.

Zach Molloy continued his outstanding season in defence with a best-on-ground performance, just pipping teammate Paul Higgins with seven goals.

Higgins has been central to Whittlesea’s two wins this season, kicking eight majors in the Round 5 victory over North Heidelberg.

Harvey said all 22 players could have been named in the best.

“Paul just gives us another dynamic up forward, it’s an area where we’ve struggled all year, we haven’t been able find the right mix down there,” Harvey said.

“We haven’t been able to kick scores, so to kick 15 goals was huge for our confidence as well.

“Zach played more of a roaming role, it was a bit of freedom for him because he does get the best match-up every week.

“Since the Lloyd game when he had eight goals kicked on him he hasn’t been beaten – he’s got hold of Shane Harvey, Ahmed Saad – he relishes the opportunity to play on the best small forwards.

“We could have put every player in the best and a lot of those were younger players – Zach (Molloy), Taidhg Bland, Sam Indian, Blake Fitzgerald and Blake Watson.

“Blake broke his wrist against West Preston in Round 3 – he’s been training the house down but we’ve held him back – and he comes in off an 11-week spell and had an impact straight away.”

Following the second COVID-19 enforced break of the season the Northern Football League declared there would be no relegation this season.

The win would have all but guaranteed safety but Harvey said there was still plenty of pride to play for in the final three weeks.

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“We thought we were good enough (to avoid relegation), we think the next four games for us are winnable,” he said.

“We’re the only team that’s played the top five twice so far, we wanted to prove a point that we are a Division 1 football club.

“It’s about pride for us now, we want to be putting in a good showing and get the belief in our young side that we are a Division 1 club.”

The Eagles host Macleod next week while Montmorency will look to bounce back when it travels to Hurstbridge.