Harry Canning you star!
With just over a minute remaining in the match and Berwick leading by a point at Edwin Flack Reserve, Doncaster East got a deep forward entry to a three-on-three contest at the top of the goal square.
Two of the three were former AFL-listed key forwards, Jos Schache and Tim O’Brien, and anything less than a Wickers mark and the visitors would likely have at least been able to rush a behind.
But it was Berwick teenager Canning who took the big grab which had shades of Leo Barry about it.
That play was the epilogue to an inspired comeback victory for Berwick, which won 9.7 61 to 9.6 60.
Trailing by 21 points early in the last quarter having kicked just three goals to three quarter time, Berwick kicked six of the last eight goals to snatch an unlikely victory.
The last three of those majors were off the boot of deep forward Jai Neal, who kicked five for the match as he got on top of his direct opponent and caused panic in one-on-one contests.
Neal gave Berwick the lead for the first time at the 14-minute-mark, winning a crucial one-on-one in the goal square against his direct opponent and snapping truly around his body, set up by ruck Dan Pinter.
Missing talismanic tall Jesse Cirilus to an ankle injury, it was up to 20-year-old Pinter to shoulder the ruck duties and he did a damn fine job.
Pinter’s day was highlighted by a spectacular volley out of a ruck contest in Berwick’s goal square which brought the Berwick deficit to three points at the 12-minute-mark of the last quarter.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of the victory, though, was that after hitting the front, Berwick conceded the next two goals in quick succession – and still found a way to come again and win it.
Neal won a free kick in a marking contest and converted as the clock ticked into stoppage time in the last quarter, before pouncing on loose East Doncaster defending with a soccer goal soon thereafter.
Following that play, it was over to the backline to hold out a sustained late thrust from Doncaster East.
With league-leading goal kicker Schache looming large alongside O’Brien there was a mountain of tension for Berwick supporters, but the young Wickers defence was up for the challenge.
Andrew Williams’ troops forced Doncaster East wide and clogged dangerous space and won important contests.
“I think we got ourselves in a position where the game was manageable and we could give ourselves a chance to win and I think the idea of honourable losses wasn’t in our makeup on Saturday so we showed what we had,” coach Andrew Williams said.
“Our guys responded well and got good footy going inside 50 and Jai Neal did the rest.”
Young midfielder Sam Frangalas flung the ball in the air in jubilation as the final siren echoed around Edwin Flack Reserve, signalling Berwick’s second win of the season.
It followed a gritty first three quarters for the Wickers where they staunchly kept Doncaster East at arm’s length despite struggling to sustain rhythm in their game.
“We’ve been really competitive in every game this year bar the South Croydon game and in winnable positions at three quarter time so that gives us great confidence that our best footy is good enough,” Williams noted.
“The joy to win games against real quality shows us we’re a side on the up and there’s plenty of growth which is starting to show.”
Neal in form
Neal’s three last quarter goals on Saturday made it 12 goals across the last three games as he has seen a significant uptick in his form after an injury-interrupted journey prior to 2025.
Berwick’s most damaging forward is yet to miss a game this season, showing glimpses with 11 goals across his first seven games of the season before getting his just reward with his recent inspired performances.
“He’s stringing together consistent footy for us,” Williams said.
“He can play tall or small, is really athletic and kicks the ball really well and he took his chances on the weekend when it mattered which was huge for us and is huge for his confidence.”
His 23 goals makes Neal clearly Berwick’s leading goal kicker – their next best is Pinter with 10 – and the fourth leading goal kicker in the competition.
Negating former AFL duo
Josh Schache and Tim O’Brien are arguably the most lethal and proven one-two forward combination in the Eastern Football League Premier Division.
Both have kicked goals in every game this season and given their strength and experience at a higher level, combatting them was always going to be a challenge.
Schache, despite causing headaches at times, was reasonably well contained, kicking three goals, while teenager Kane Hurst did a sterling job to keep O’Brien to the sole goal.
They stood up for large periods across the first three quarters and then held out unbelievably in a high-octane finish.
Berwick 1.1 7 2.4 16 3.7 25 9.7 61
Doncaster East 2.2 14 4.3 27 6.4 40 9.6 60
Results: South Croydon 6.4 40 v East Ringwood 15.9 99, Vermont 12.9 81 v Mitcham 11.9 75, Noble Park 9.11 65 v 8.8 56, Berwick 9.7 61 v Doncaster East 9.6 60, Balwyn 9.14 68 v Blackburn 6.21 57
Ladder: East Ringwood 36, Blackburn 32, Balwyn 28, Rowville 24, Vermont 20, Noble Park 20, Doncaster East 16, South Croydon 12, Berwick 8, Mitcham 4
Fixture: Blackburn v South Croydon, Doncaster East v Vermont, Mitcham v East Ringwood, Berwick v Noble Park, Rowville v Balwyn
