Aberfeldie falls to Northern Saints in the upset of the EDFL Premier Division this season

ABERFELDIE was at the wrong end of the upset of the year in the Essendon District Football League Premier Division on Saturday, falling to a previously winless Northern Saints outfit.

ABERFELDIE had won five games from six outings and Northern Saints were winless in ninth spot on the ladder.

But in what will surely go down as the biggest upset of 2014 in the Essendon District Football League Premier Division, the Saints pulled off a stunning 54-point win when the two sides locked horns at Clifton Park on Saturday.

In what Abers coach Mal Michael described as a “nightmare” result, the home side trailed from start to finish as it struggled to get going.

A week after inflicting Keilor with its first defeat of the season, Aberfeldie found itself 18 points adrift at half-time and only dropped further off the pace in the second half as the visitors romped to victory.

“To say that we lost the game is, I think, a bit disrespectful to Northern Saints,” Michael said.

“They were outstanding. They just out-pressured us, out-muscled us and competed well. We took a lot of things out of the game that we can certainly get better at.

“It was very disappointing but full credit to them.”

Some of the Abers’ top-end talent played their roles, Zach Hislop impressing through the midfield, Darcy Daniher booting five goals, Mark Blake taking charge in the ruck and forward Kyle Reimers producing his best game of the year to finish to slot three goals.

However, Michael said it was still a work in progress trying to get the 22 players each week to play together coherently as one after an off-season which saw eight new senior players arrive at the club.

“I was reflecting after the game on Saturday night and we’re still trying to incorporate eight new players into the team,” the coach said.

“That will eventually come, I have no doubts about that. But that’s why we’re seeing some inconsistencies in our game.”

Elsewhere on Saturday, the inclusion of former AFL high-flyer Russell Robertston was not enough to get Maribyrnong Park over the line in its match with Keilor, the Lions falling by 16 points.

Avondale Heights won its seventh straight game with a 22-point triumph over Essendon Doutta Stars, Strathmore took care of Airport West by 63 points and Greenvale made for back-to-back wins with a 62-point victory over Pascoe Vale.