Southern league: East Brighton blasts into finals in Division 2

The Vampires came back from the dead to snatch a finals berth in Southern league Division 2 with a dramatic win over ladder leaders Chelsea Heights.

East Brighton players huddle after their rousing win.

It was all or nothing for East Brighton on Saturday.

Coach Andrew Kahofer delivered an emotional rev-up to his players at three-quarter time, urging them to find something extra in the last quarter.

At the time, his Vampires were leading Southern league juggernaut Chelsea Heights, which had won 10 games in a row, by five points at Beazley Reserve.

Win and East Brighton was in the finals.

Lose, and it was season-over.

“It came down to 25 minutes for all the hard work over the past three years with Covid and all that,’’ Kahofer said.

A desperate East Brighton, kicking into a breeze, responded by outscoring Chelsea Heights 4.3 to 2.6 in a pulsating final quarter to pull off a thrilling 14-point victory, 9.13 (67) to 7.11 (53).

East Brighton big man Daniel Taberner.

Big Daniel Taberner clunked several contested marks and kicked two clutch goals in a match-winning last quarter display, while Blair Atkins’ miracle goal from inside the centre square fuelled the Vampires’ belief and momentum.

Wholehearted Cale Love-Linay was named best-on-ground after a brilliant showing in the ruck, which is not his normal position.

Down back, no-fuss-but-effective Mark Jamieson showed poise and class when the game was at its hottest, and captain Ben Douthie led by example.

East Brighton coach Andrew Kahofer.

For Kahofer, who resigned after Round 13 but is coaching out the season, it was one of his most satisfying moments in football.

“It would have to be a footy highlight,’’ he said.

“It was a great team effort. Some players had different roles. You sit back and say, ‘wow, where was that for 17 weeks’, you know?

“We only had one option and that was to win the game.

“So whatever that took that was our theme for the week and we trained it, spoke about it.’’

Having secured fifth spot, East Brighton will meet Caulfield Bears in the elimination final at Mordialloc next Sunday.

Caulfield Bears also go into the finals on a high after upsetting second-placed Doveton by 20 points, 10.5 (65) to 7.3 (45), with Clayton Hodgson and Thomas Heagney in mint form.

East Brighton’s coaching team: from left, Alan Curtis, Andrew Kahofer and Ash Lever.

East Brighton players walk off victorious.

Kahofer insists the Vampires are a genuine finals threat.

“We’re not making up the numbers,’’ he said.

“I think we deserve to be in the top five.

“The ladder doesn’t matter, points don’t matter, now it’s just play a game of footy.

“They (Chelsea Heights) didn’t put the cue in the rack, I’d have to say Chelsea Heights had a red hot crack, a couple of their players got some knocks and they brought them back on the ground and we knew that meant they were playing to win.

“I’m sure if we had to play them again they’d be a bit more wary of some of our moves.

“I’m confident we can play that footy and take it up to anybody now.’’

East Brighton did it the hard way, too, reduced to one rotation in the second half after losing defenders Ollie Willett and Matt Mcternan to hamstring injuries.

Division 2 ladder: Chelsea Heights 56, Doveton 52, Keysborough 48, Caulfield Bears 44, East Brighton 30, Hampton Park 30, Highett 20, Skye 8, Heatherton 0.

Finals, at Mordialloc:

Saturday: Qualifying final - Doveton v Keysborough.

Sunday: Elimination final - Caulfield Bears v East Brighton.