Whittlesea caps Roy Dyson’s 200th match with win to ensure its place in NFL Division 1 for 2017

THE hallmarks of Roy Dyson’s 200-game career were all over of one of the defining wins in Whittlesea’s history on Saturday.

Roy Dyson is chaired off after his 200th game for Whittlesea in the Northern Football League. Picture: Tim Michell.

THE hallmarks of Roy Dyson’s 200-game career were all over of one of the defining wins in Whittlesea’s history on Saturday.

The Eagles became the first Northern Football League Division 2 premier to stave off relegation the following season since 2012 when they defeated Lower Plenty 12.14 (86) to 9.12 (66).

It was a performance highlighted by grunt, character and mateship — the traits which have made Dyson a success since he made his senior debut as a 16-year-old.

While the man of the moment was in the thick of the action, those qualities rubbed off on his teammates.

Matthew Atta willed himself to contests, Jai Robinson was prolific across half-back and Dyson’s youngest brother Riley lifted for the occasion.

“It was great to get the win and consolidate ourselves in Division 1, which is where we all want to be and where we think we should be,” Dyson said.

Roy Dyson leads Whittlesea out for his 200th Northern Football League match with his two young sons. Picture: Tim Michell.

“We’ve been up and down, to consolidate that spot with a couple of games to go is really good.”

Lower Plenty showed fight in the opening three quarters, staying within 12 points as Whittlesea struggled to shake the persistent visitors.

It took a touch of class from the Eagles’ playing assistant coach Justin Sherman on the three-quarter-time siren to ensure the hosts took an eight-point lead to the final break.

Sherman saluted the sky as his set shot sailed through from 55m to give Whittlesea breathing space.

Then on cue, Roy Dyson won the first clearance of the last term.

After an impassioned plea from captain Andrew Fairchild for his side to prove they belonged in Division 1, Whittlesea played like a team possessed.

For 10 minutes, the ball rarely left the Eagles’ attacking 50.

Sherman goaled from a set shot to make their territorial dominance count, before Janan Daniel, Nick Pupillo and Fairchild stretched the margin to 26 points.

Dyson was reluctantly chaired off after his milestone match, which he shared with three of his brothers — Max, Riley and Jack.

The five Dyson brothers from Northern Football League club Whittlesea. L-R Max, Riley, Roy, Lachlan and Jack. Picture: Tim Michell.

Lachlan, who played in the reserves’ two-point win, cheered his siblings on from the boundary.

“I think it’s sunk in,” Eagles coach Jim Atkins said.

“This is where we want to be (and) this has been the plan since we had to go back to Division 2. The boys are pretty relieved to know they’re going to be playing Division 1 next year.”

The Eagles have re-signed a host of senior players for 2017.