K Rock Football | Coach Ned Aulsebrook was adamant East Geelong wasn’t paying heed to the external noise of past finals failures, and his players proved him right, beating Bell Post Hill by 38 points to advance to its first GDFNL grand final since 2012.

The Eagles were growing an unwanted reputation as finals chokers, having won just one of their past seven outings at St Albans Reserve, including being bundled out of the flag race in straight sets after finishing minor premier in 2022 and 2024.

It was a fate that could have befallen them again this year after posting the competition’s best home-and-away record before losing last week’s second semi-final to grand final opponent North Geelong.

History is history, and you guys (the media) are just stating what’s happened,” Aulsebrook said.

“But the idea of us not being able to cope in the finals pressure cooker was something that everyone else was talking about.”

East was unable to shake the Panthers’ challenge until the second half.

Leading by 12 points at half-time, the Eagles kicked three goals to one in the third quarter to extend the margin to a more comfortable 25 points at the final change.

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