The EDFL reinforced it is an improving league when it beat the Maryborough-Castlemaine Football League by 45 points in the WorkSafe AFL Victoria Country Championship match at Maryborough on Saturday.
It was the EDFL's third consecutive victory in the VCFL championships following wins over Alberton in 2013 and Mid-Gippsland in 2014.The U/16s and U/18s also won to made it a clean sweep of victories on the day.
Aside from the later part of the first quarter the EDFL were able to play the game on their own terms until three quarter time and by that stage the match was well in the visitors keeping with a commanding 57 point lead.
The EDFL set the tone for the match in the opening 10 minutes with goals by Ryan Gillis, Justin Berry and Nathan Langley to open up a handy lead. The MCFL lifted with two late goals in the first quarter to trim the margin to 11 points at the first break but that was as close as the home team crept for the rest of the match.
The EDFL banged on six goals to one in the second quarter to take a match winning 45 point lead into half time. In the third term the EDFL outscored the MCFL by 12 points but credit to the local side who showed plenty of character to kick six quarter goals to ensure the margin after half time did not increase.
Longwarry midfielder Tye Holland, Buln Buln ruckman Matt Gray and Cora Lynn on baller Ricky Clark went full bore at the ball all game and were the main midfield drivers all match while Tyson Payne, Mitch Nobelius and Dylan Heylen lent plenty of assistance and Ben Miller and Zac Vansittart defused many attacks in defence.
The pace and skill of Justin Berry and Jackson Dalton across half forward posed a headache for the opposition as did Ryan Gillis who took some terrific marks and steered through five goals. Koo Wee Rup rover Tim Miller, Cora Lynn forward Nathan Langley and Nilma Darnum livewire forward Jason Wells all chimed in with three goals in a good team effort. Tye Holland won the VCFL medal for the EDFL.
For the MCFL Carisbrook forward Matthew Bilton proved elusive kicking six goals including four in the last quarter, Lexton's Nick Spolding and Royal Park's Chris Cowan offered plenty of resistance behind the centre and 19 year old athletic Navarre ruckman Josh Fowkes tried hard to stem the influence of Matt Gray.
The EDFL is now ranked at 21 on the VCFL Country Football table and while yet to be confirmed look set to play against the Horsham District Football League (ranked 22) in 2016 who lost by 67 points to the Central Highlands League.
U/18s
The EDFL trampled all over the MCFL winning by 105 points. Spectators were taken by some of the team goals in what on occasions looked like a clinic.
After kicking four majors in the first quarter and keeping the home side goal less the EDFL had little to fret about. Ellinbank's Sean Masterson in the ruck, Buln Buln midfielder Jack Nuttall and Cora Lynn's Rylan Smith, who was almost impassable at centre half back in the second half were stand outs. Koo Wee Rup utility Nathan Voss was prominent and kicked four goals while Bunyip forward Codey Manning bagged three last quarter goals.
With the withdrawal of Buln Buln's Charlie Park to injury Trent Armour from Nar Nar Goon came into the side and made the most of his opportunity taking some fine overhead marks while Nar Nar Goon's Cody Andrews offered plenty of drive and Warragul Industrials Michael Lynn and strongly built Cora Lynn forward Adam Marchetti both drilled through three goals in a outstanding team performance.
The VCFL medal for the EDFL was awarded to Jack Nuttall. The only lowlight was a bad ankle injury to Cora Lynn's Tom Siposs that saw the emerging forward leave the field in the opening quarter and take no further part in the game.
U/16s
The EDFL creamed the MCFL by 71 points and barely put a foot wrong all game. Longwarry's Jesse Davies dominated the ruck and looks a potential star in the making, Nar Nar Goon rover Callum Tyler got his hands on the ball countless times and Koo Wee Rup forward Matthew Tribuzi presented well and steered through four goals.
Longwarry forward Jedd Serong, who won the VCFL medal was both good in the air and at ground level and along with his pacy team mate Kane Oldham, who produced some blistering runs both troubled the home sides back line all match.
Ellinbank twins Blake and Mathew Notman and Bunyip's Ben Stewart did more than enough to suggest they have a very bright future as did Ellinbank's Joel Paredes.