Outer East league: Powelltown edges Warburton Millgrove in Division 2 thriller

A contestant on The Recruit reality show made an impressive comeback to inspire Powelltown to a gripping win in Outer East league Division 2.

Filming of the footy reality show 'The Recruit'. Chris Moreland during the 6km concrete brick carrying challenge in 2014. Pic: Michael Klein

It was a classic top-of-the-ladder clash: tight, tough and desperate.

Warburton Millgrove was on the verge of beating reigning premiers Powelltown for much of Saturday’s Division 2 encounter — until the Demons dug deep.

Powelltown kicked three goals to one in the last quarter to secure a gripping 12.9 (81) to 11.14 (80) victory.

Chris Moreland, a contestant on the footy reality show The Recruit, slotted two goals in a match-winning display in his first game since May 13.

“He really stood up,” Powelltown coach Jarrod Bayliss said.

“For a bloke who hasn’t played in eight weeks he was really strong when he went forward, he took three telling marks and got us back into the contest.”

Austin Bizzotto, Ben Wratten, Gary Conyers and Brock Castree were also vital in the Demons’ victory.

Powelltown's champion ruckman Ben Wratten. Picture: Facebook

Bayliss described Wratten’s display in the ruck as “phenomenal”.

“He’s just a Trojan, there’s a reason why he’s the best ruckman in Division 2 by a country mile, he just continues to get the job done for us,” he said.

“Him and Gary Conyers and Brock Castree, who was really strong and hard in and under.

“It was a good contest, both team threw everything at it and it was down to the wire in that last 10 seconds.”

Warburton Millgrove’s dynamic young forward Bailey Humphrey almost inspired his side to victory, kicking five goals to move to 41 majors for the season.

Tyson Henry, Dylan Walker and Patrick Huynh were also in the best for Warby, who remain on top of the ladder.

Bayliss said he built the game up “like a final”.

“This is what finals footy is all about, you know, in six weeks time we could be in the same situation and you’ve got to be ready for whatever they throw at you,’’ he said.

“And I thought our boys responded really well to it, just their contested pressure and work over the four quarters is what got us over the line, they just continued to grind.

“It was pleasing to win but it could have gone either way. They (Warburton) are a good young side and they’re playing some good footy, all credit to their footy club with the young juniors they’ve got coming through.’’

In other games, Will Stewart fired off his fourth bag of seven goals this season to help Alexandra to a 61-point win over Broadford, 16.8 (104) to 6.7 (43). Stewart has kicked 45 goals in 10 games. Mitch Parker, Ben Cooper, Ryan Lucas and Harrison Kelly were also in the Saints’ best.

Yarra Glen improved its record to 5-6 with a 39-point win over Yarra Junction, 12.4 (76) to 5.7 (37). Josh Hawkins slotted five goals for the winners, and Tom Sullivan, Ben Ashton and Callum Tucker were named best.