My year with the EFL

Park Orchards and Silvan battle it out in the Div 4 Grand Final (photo: Davis Harrigan)

You might have seen quite the inundation of local footy posts on my blog this year; that’s because of my volunteer work with the Eastern Football League this season.

Having spent 2012 & 2013 building up something of a profile with AFL Victoria and covering state football, in many ways, a move to different pastures felt right.

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EFL: Vermont’s winning charge extends to finals

Vermont’s Justin Van Unen grabs for the ball as his Montrose opponent slips (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Finals footy does not get any better than warm sun, no wind and a huge crowd.

Vermont took on Montrose at Bayswater Oval on Saturday in the Division One qualifying final, and came away victorious, 16.7.103 to 13.9.87.  It was a dominant second and third quarter display that allowed the Eagles to seal the game by three quarter time, despite an extremely spirited effort from Montrose late in the fourth quarter.

VWFL: Vic Metro take U/21 Crown

Sarah Perkins (left) and Terri McIntosh (right) go for the ball at Whitten Oval (photo: Davis Harrigan)

Conditions at the Whitten Oval fluctuated throughout the Vic Metro v Vic Country U/21 women’s match on Saturday, but the blue Metro girls took the trophy home, 9.13.67 to 6.10.46.

With the day considered to be the pinnacle for the young talent coming through the Victorian system, it showed, as the girls physicality continued to intensify each quarter.

EFL: Croydon outlasts East Burwood at home

Players dive for the ball in East Burwood’s forward 50 (photo: Davis Harrigan)

The expected morning rain never showed, and Croydon Park was in near-perfect condition for Croydon to achieve a hard-fought 14 point win – 9.8.62 to 7.6.48 – against East Burwood at home.

Both the Rams and the Blues scraped home in round one, which was the perfect platform for a contest on Saturday at Croydon Park. 

Cricket: BHRDCA: Forest Hill claim silverware and piece of history (McIntosh Shield)

Forest Hill: McIntosh Shield Champions (photo: Davis Harrigan)

It may have taken 36 years, but the Forest Hill Zebras finally claimed another McIntosh Shield title, defeating Vermont by 46 runs at Morton Park on Saturday.

Under overcast skies the Shield game started early, to make up lost time from day one.  With all other finals completed, the crowd almost doubled on last Saturday’s patronage.

VFL: Northern Blues take out Frankston at Preston

Northern Blues players shepherd & get chased at Preston City Oval (photo mine)

Six goals in a brilliant performance from Khan Haretuku was not enough to save the Frankston Dolphins, who went down to the Northern Blues at Preston City Oval on Saturday.

The ground was dry and disposal clean, however it was the Blues who got the home crowd fired up, with Luke Mitchell, Kane Lambert and Shaun Hampson all putting goals on the board early.