A tough and dogged Essendon District Football League side held off the Goulburn Valley Football League in the AFL’s community championships at Windy Hill on Saturday.
The EDFL got the jump in the first half as its running players controlled the middle of the ground and found forward options.
After the break, the game turned in GVFL’s favour and the ball spent most of the third quarter in its forward half.
But EDFL’s defence stood strong to maintain a lead going into the last.
It was much the same in the last quarter, although the GVFL got to within two points.
EDFL held on to win 13.9 (87)-12.11 (83). EDFL coach, Mick McGuane, said he was proud to be part of the team after the determination it showed to seal the win.
“I think our second quarter was the difference,” he said.
“We kicked six goals, just under half our tally for the game.
“The second half was probably lopsided and we hung tough.
“Goulburn Valley probably could have eked out a victory.
“To concede 28 inside-50s in the last half and manufacture only 13 ourselves was the reason we gave them a chance to get into the game.”
It was a younger-looking EDFL line-up than in recent years, with several regulars injured or unable to play.
It meant McGuane and his coaching panel of Shannon Grant, Dean Wallis and Adam Potter had to look at other options.
One was to play Chris Prowse as the lone ruckman; another was to look for something different up forward.
“We had to find what we thought was some creative nous in our forward line and in the end we had only six goalkickers,” McGuane said.
“Patty Veszpremi had some luck at the tribunal during the week and kicked a couple of clutch goals, while Dean Galea kicked five straight.
“For those boys to contribute and kick clutch goals shows why we went with them.”
It was EDFL’s defensive end that was the most impressive, restricting GVFL to just 12 goals despite the plethora of inside-50s.
“Michael Tanner’s last quarter was very important and Daniel Campisano got his hands on some critical spoils,” McGuane said.
“[James] Breust defended really well and if he continues to work on his composure with the ball he’ll be a very good player for Maribyrnong Park.
“Robbie Castello and Adam Iacobucci |were really cool heads under pressure and Josh Toy’s kicking in was a highlight of the game.”
McGuane said Daniel Schibeci and Stephen Brewer were also important in the back half.
Brewer was awarded the EDFL best-on- ground medal ahead of Castello and Iacobucci.
