Southern league Division 3: Doveton Eagles in draw with South Yarra

Doveton Eagles coach Josh Johns had 37 touches but blamed himself for his team’s draw against South Yarra.

Doveton Eagles playing coach Josh Johns. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Two points are better than none.

In the moments after last Saturday’s draw against South Yarra at Power Rd Reserve, Doveton Eagles playing coach Josh Johns didn’t think so.

Johns, at 22 the youngest senior coach in suburban football, tossed a water bottle in frustration after the 11.1 (67) to 9.13 (67) deadlock.

His team had kicked two more goals than the Lions but still fell agonisingly short of achieving its first win of the season in Division 3 of the Southern league.

Johns was credited with having 37 possessions, nine tackles and six clearances, continuing his outstanding season.

But near the end of the match he was pinched for holding the ball.

It looked a tough call, and Lion Keenan Bygraves used the free to kick the goal that brought scores level in the 25th minute.

The siren went at 26.20 with the ball in the South Yarra forward line.

Two Doveton Eagles involved in the last passage of play slumped to the ground in disappointment.

It was a tough result for Johns and his team, which led by 17 points at three-quarter time but failed to score in the last term.

“For quite some time after the game I sort of felt like it was my own doing, with that free kick going against me,’’ Johns was saying on Monday.

“I was just really disappointed. Emotions were running very high when the siren went.

“As a team, I was stoked we got the draw, because the takeaway from it is that we didn’t lose. On a personal note, I found it really hard not to blame myself. I was shattered. But for the team, I was pretty happy. It seemed like the full 22 were playing together as a team, not as individuals.’’

Still, it was a far better result than the previous week against Narre South Saints, when Doveton Eagles, with a lot of players missing, were routed 31. 26 (212) to 0.2 (2).

Leigh Tannahill, usually a defender, went forward to kick four goals against the Yarras and David Bonacci three.

The coach, his brother Zakk, Matt Carter (19 disposals) and Brayden Oliver joined them on the best-player list.

Family affair: Mitchell, Bradley and Kane Oulton.

Johns assumed the standing of a saviour when he took on the coaching position at such a young age.

The club was unable to land a coach and was chronically short of players.

Calling on mates and acquaintances, he pulled together two teams.

John said it had been a difficult year trying to juggle football, work and his personal life, but he was starting to find a “happy medium’’.

Players have already told him they are prepared to commit for 2022. He sees that as a big win.

The coaching role has brought out his best as a player: the club has named in the best in 10 of his 11 matches.

Meanwhile 16-year-old Kane Oulton made his debut in senior football, turning out for the Eagles’ reserves on Saturday.

His stepbrother Mitchell is playing in the senior side (and his father, Bradley, also played for the club).