By David Nagel
“The harder you work, the luckier you seem to get.”
The famous quote from champion golfer Gary Player sums up perfectly the thrilling four-point win of Beaconsfield after the Eagles survived a classic last-quarter showdown with Lilydale in Eastern Division One on Saturday.
The Eagles simply worked harder – had an ounce of luck late – and thoroughly deserved their 11.16.82 to 12.6.78 victory that keeps their finals hopes alive in an exciting first season in Eastern.
The Eagles kicked 5.6 to 2.2 in the final term to claw out a famous victory – but getting to the three-quarter-time break was again frustrating for coach Mick Fogarty.
Lilydale had the upper hand in the first quarter, leading by two straight kicks, before the Eagles once again shot themselves in the foot with some glaring inaccuracy in the second quarter.
The Eagles had eight scoring shots to three, but the deficit somehow remained at two goals after the visitors kicked 2.6 to 3.0 for the term.
The Falcons extended their lead to 18 points as the players congregated for the final instructions from their coaches.
“After we spoke about the structure things, then I spoke about finally capitalising on an opportunity to win a big game away from home that was so vital for our season,” Fogarty said.
“The difference between going 3-6 and being 4-5 was huge.
“But as important as the win was it was more about earning respect in the competition and knowing we can come from behind and win games like that.
“We were really good around the contest, got some speed on the outside, and the scoreboard looked after itself.
“We really wanted to grind our way to victory and that’s what the message was all about.
“It was a tough grinding win and I was really proud of the boys.”
Lilydale appeared set for victory at the six-minute mark of the final term when Macauley Beckwith stretched the margin out to 22 points.
But the Eagles refused to surrender, they lifted their workrate…and their luck in front of goals started to turn.
Youngster Jake Porta kickstarted things with a clever left foot snap, before three minutes later – at the 12-minute mark – Hayden Brough took an intercept mark and calmly converted from mid-range.
And when Matt Wilson weaved through traffic to kick another, the Eagles had closed to three points.
Trent Stokoe then produced a magnificent goal-saving smother in defence.
The desperate Eagles then worked the ball forward and took the front, when Sam Merrick received a free at the top of the goal square and kicked truly at the 18-minute mark.
Scott Triffitt then showed great desperation in defence, but the Falcons snuck free from the resultant throw in with Liam Jeffs putting the home side back in front.
The Eagles then dodged two bullets, with Lilydale missing two golden chances to put the game to bed.
The last five minutes produced some classic desperation football.
Jack Docherty turned tackling machine at the stoppages, and it was his clearance from half back that set up the winning goal.
Docherty tumbled his kick forward, with Josh Smith squaring a one-on-one at ground level to earn a boundary throw in.
Harry Coe then took clean possession in the ruck, before firing a handball out to Nick McPherson just a metre inside the boundary.
McPherson took two steps to steady, before hitting the match-winner from the most difficult of angles.
Lilydale then gave away a centre-bounce infringement, with the Eagles locking down at the stoppages and maintaining the ball in their forward line.
Tyson Robinson joined Docherty in a stoppage tackling frenzy in the last two minutes of play, with the final siren sounding with the Eagles four points in front.
The ball ended in the hands of Matt Johnson, who kicked three for the Eagles, while two each to Smith and Wilson were also crucial factors in the outcome.
The bustling work of Casey Wassylko was also instrumental in the win, while the late work of McPherson, Docherty and Sam Mackinder can’t be underestimated.
The Eagles hit the half-way mark of the season with a 4-5 record and will need to reverse those numbers if they want to play finals football.
The quest begins against eighth-placed Wantirna South on Saturday 18 June.
EASTERN DIVISION ONE
RESULTS – ROUND 9
LILYDALE 4.2 7.2 10.4 12.6(78)
BEACONSFIELD 2.2 4.8 6.10 11.16(82)
Lilydale Goals: B. Mitchener 3, J. Jaworski 2, M. Beckwith 2, L. Jeffs, J. Bateman, M. De Franceschi, J. White, T. Davison. Best: J. Clements, M. Massarotti, R. Clausen, M. De Franceschi, L. Jeffs, J. Depace.
Beaconsfield Goals: M. Johnson 3, M. Wilson 2, J. Smith 2, N. McPherson, J. Porta, S. Merrick, H. Brough. Best: C. Wassylko, M. Wilson, S. Mackinder, N. McPherson, M. Cameron, J. Smith.
OTHER GAMES
Lilydale 12.6.78 v Beaconsfield 11.16.82, East Ringwood 12.9.81 v Bayswater 7.10.52, Mooroolbark 16.13.109 v Wantirna South 5.5.35, Montrose 16.8.104 v Croydon 8.10.58, Mitcham 19.14.128 v Upper Ferntree Gully 4.5.29.
LADDER
Mooroolbark 36, East Ringwood 32, Mitcham 24, Croydon 20, Montrose 16, Beaconsfield 16, Lilydale 12, Wantirna South 12, Bayswater 12, Upper Ferntree Gully 0.
FIXTURE
Saturday, 11 June
Round 12: Montrose v Mooroolbark.
Saturday, 18 June
Round 10: Wantirna South v Beaconsfield, Bayswater v Upper Ferntree Gully, East Ringwood v Montrose, Mooroolbark v Mitcham, Lilydale v Croydon.
