Elsternwick stuns Brunswick, South Melbourne edges out Whitefriars

Division 2’s first week of finals once again proved the age-old adage of the ‘season starting again come finals time’ and that wins and losses in the home & away season mean little other than where you qualify come September.

Brunswick won the minor premiership by two and a half games but entered the finals having lost two of their last three games to fellow contenders Whitefriars and South Melbourne Districts in the lead-up.

They faced Elsternwick in the Qualifying Final on a blustery day at LaTrobe University and managed to hold the Wickers goal-less in the first term, kicking 2.5 with the breeze themselves to lead by 15 points at the first change.

Elsternwick then made better use of the wind in the second quarter, kicking 5.1 to 1.1 to hit the front and lead by 9 points at the half.

It was a goal apiece in what turned out to be a decisive tight third term as Brunswick failed to get back in front with the breeze at their backs, peppering the goals but kicking 1.6 to 1.3.

As a result of that inaccuracy, Elsternwick headed into the final quarter with a one-goal lead and were able to control the game late, kicking 3 goals to 2 to complete the upset and progress straight through to Grand Final Day, 9.9 (63) to Brunswick’s 6.15 (51) by 12 points.

Flynn Brosnan, Daniel Marchese and skipper Julian Yeatman all finished with 2 goals for Elsternwick, while Brunswick had six individual goalscorers.

Elsternwick’s coach, Peter Higginbotham, expressed his happiness after the game, saying,

“We’re really happy with the result. We went in as underdogs, focused on capitalising on turnovers, and knew we had to give our best. We believed we could bring the pressure, which paid off—we won and now have a week off before the Grand Final.

“Coming from Division 3, just qualifying was a huge achievement for us. We know we can apply pressure over the ball and are excited about what’s ahead.”

The Elimination Final pitted the 3^rd ranked South Melbourne Districts against the 4^th ranked Whitefriars at ETU Stadium.

The Swans started well to lead by 9 points at quarter-time before Whitefriars kicked the only goal of the second term to reduce the margin to 2 points at the half as two seasons hung in the balance.

But it was the Swans who seized control of their own destiny, capitalising with the wind in the third quarter, booting 7.3 to 2.3 to open up a 32-point lead for Whitefriars to try and chase down in the final term.

But despite holding South scoreless into the breeze, their own inaccuracy cost them dearly – Whitefriars kicking 1.8 in the final term to leave them 3 goals short and drawing a close to their season while the Swans will progress to the Preliminary Final.

Jesse Andrew kicked 3 goals for the winners, ably supported by Jamie Brooker, Aris Moustakas and Leigh Sfetkidis, who all booted 2 apiece. Nicholas Garratt was the only multiple goalscorer for Whitefriars, finishing with 2 goals.

After the game, South Melbourne’s coach, Nick Abbott, said, “We’re obviously very happy with the win and are taking away a lot of positives from the game. Whitefriars is a quality team, and they had beaten us both times this year.”

“Brunswick is no different—they were the top team for a reason. Tom and Ben lead their club exceptionally well, and this will be a great matchup between two quality teams. Unfortunately, the losing side will feel unlucky not to be moving up.”

All eyes now turn to the Division 2 Men’s Preliminary Final, which will see Brunswick face South Melbourne Districts at Waverley Oval (East Malvern) from 2.50pm this Sunday.

The winner will progress to face Elsternwick on Grand Final Day the following weekend.