A statement’s been made

The victorious SEFNL interleague side, back from left: Jesse Davies, Trent Shinners, Michael Riseley, Troy Tharle, Madi Andrews, Lucas Jellyman-Turner, Daniel Johnston, Matt Clarke, Michael Collins (captain), Rhys Nisbet (coach), Tim Gunn. Middle: Dillan Bass, Marc Holt (captain), Luke Sheppard, Luke Bee-Hugo. Front: Brad Scalzo, Ash Smith, Ryan Jones, Anthony Vella, Trent Cody, Mitch Cox, Jake Bowd, Mitch Cotter. 180980 Pictures: STEWART CHAMBERS

By Nick Creely

SOUTH EAST FOOTBALL NETBALL LEAGUE

REVIEW – AFL VICTORIA COMMUNITY CHAMPIONSHIPS

On a day of so much significance and hype, the only thing the packed crowd wanted to see at Holm Park was a fair, tough and entertaining game of footy.

It was not only that, but it was more.

The Yarra Ranges certainly left no stone unturned, they bashed and crashed the packs, dared to take the game on and never gave up until the final siren blared. But the South East just did it that bit better.

In the end, it was really only polish that set them apart.

Regardless of the outcome of the proposed merger in 2019 between the two leagues, football in the region is in good shape.

There was just one change to the SEFNL’s side on game day, with athletic ruckman Gach Nyuon pulling out of the game, replaced by the versatile Troy Tharle.

It was a hot start, with the ball flinging from one end to another as both defences struggled to handle the opening exchanges. The starting midfield of Madi Andrews, Brad Scalzo and Michael Collins – three names that can frighten even the most seasoned local footballers – got the SEFNL off to a bright start by winning the ball from the middle, and on the outside Luke Bee-Hugo started brightly with his driving run.

After locking the ball inside fifty for five minutes through some terrific forward pressure, Berwick star Ash Smith got the crowd roaring with the opening goal, courtesy of a horror turnover out of defence.

Moments later, Tim Gunn curled the ball around expertly in the first of his four majors, but the Yarra Ranges were getting their chances, but were unable to convert in front of goal, something that crept into their game and eventually became their undoing.

The tide slowly turned in time on in the first quarter after two big goals against the flow, but the strength and experience of Marc Holt in the goal square – staving off several defenders desperately trying to contain his marking –  ensured the SEFNL could weather the storm and take a narrow three point lead.

“Our forward entries, get them in quicker and longer,” SEFNL coach Rhys Nisbet said at quarter time.

“When we don’t have the footy, be aware where your opponent is, you’ve got to be aware of where he’s at – let’s tighten it up a little bit, and again it’s that voice, be demanding of your teammates.

“Once we get it, you can see Vel (Anthony Vella) and Ash (Smith) off the half back flank and away we go.”

Nisbet’s words eventually rang true in the second term after big James Charge slotted a massive goal from a tight angle for the Yarra Ranges, but from there, the SEFNL were at their defensive best, transitioning the ball superbly through Smith, Vella and Luke Sheppard off half back, giving Gunn, Holt and the exciting Ryan Jones plenty of opportunities to hit the scoreboard.

The SEFNL increased their lead to 18 points at half time, but the energy and tenacity of the Yarra Ranges had them well and truly in the contest.

Control began to creep in to the SEFNL’s game after the main break in all facets of the game. In the space of 41 seconds, Luke Sheppard already slammed through a vital goal, and after Tim Gunn kicked a dynamic goal from the pocket, the lead stretched its way out to 30.

Most of the elements of their game started to work, Jake Bowd was slicing the game apart with his laser kicking in defence, Michael Riseley was working over his opponents, while Collins worked his way into the game to have a magnificent influence through the middle. While in attack, Holt was either bringing the ball to ground or marking it.

The youngest players in the side in Mitch Cotter and Jesse Davies were also playing some absolutely top notch footy, with Cotter’s hands in traffic an absolute feature of his game.

The Yarra Ranges found their first goal since early in the second quarter through some nifty work by Jake Matthews, and they slammed on two more to bring the margin back to 28-points at the final change.

Nisbet – who had remained calm for the first three quarters – found his booming voice, challenging his side to make “statement” against players they will be seeing next year, and to go out as a competition with an almighty bang.

The SEFNL stormed home despite a brave Yarra Ranges never giving in, kicking three goals to two in the final quarter to run away with a 36-point win.

The only real difference in the game was the polish, the endeavour of the Yarra Ranges and hunger to win the football can never be questioned, and for many it was a first glimpse at some of their stars.

18-year-old Patrick Bruzzese – the best afield for the losing side – was sublime, skipper Marcus Hottes was a ball magnet, while Ethan Greenall had some special moments.

SEFNL coach Rhys Nisbet said the first quarter didn’t quite to plan, but was thrilled with how his side responded after the first change.

“We made some adjustments at quarter time, particularly in the middle of the ground, and that probably stemmed the flow a little bit,” he said.

“Once we got it on the outside, we were confident we could break the lines and get the guys gelling together – in the first quarter we were probably feeling each other out a little bit, and once that went away we opened the game up.”

Despite the Yarra Ranges double teaming Marc Holt (three goals) all day, Nisbet said in the end it opened up the door for other avenues to goal.

“It did (work in our favour), and it’s a funny tactic to use in interleague footy, but he’s copped it his whole life, so he’s used to it and we were ready for it – it just meant we had some legs freed up as well, which was great,” he said.

“Scoreboard pressure is the best pressure to have, the guys finished off their work really, really well -I was really happy with Timmy Gunn kicking his four goals, and Holt was a real focal point despite not getting as many goals on the board. Ryan Jones was outstanding as well.”

Berwick forward Tim Gunn is likely to go down as the final best afield medallist for the SEFNL in what was a dynamic four goal display that made him almost impossible to match up on. He kicked the goals when they needed to be kicked, and proved the decisive factor.

It was a game that lived up to expectations, a fierce contest between two leagues desperate to claim much needed bragging rights.

And it was the SEFNL that went out with a bang.

AFL YARRA RANGES 4.5 5.6 8.9 10.13 (73)
SOUTH EAST 5.2 8.6 13.7 16.13 (109)
AFL YARRA RANGES
GOALS: J. Charge 3, P. Bruzzese, K. Busoli, B. Monkhorst, C. Graham, E. Greenall, J. Matthews, D. Wilson.
BEST: P. Bruzzese, R. Allen, M. Hottes, J. Charge, E. Greenall, J. Pedder.
SOUTH EAST
GOALS: T. Gunn 4, R. Jones 3, M. Holt 3, A. Smith 2, L. Sheppard, T. Cody, B. Scalzo, M. Cotter.
BEST: T. Gunn, M. Riseley, M. Collins, M. Cotter, T. Tharle, B. Scalzo.
Best on ground medal: Tim Gunn (South East)