Blackburn has tipped reigning premier Noble Park out of finals after an almighty last-round upset of a top-four outfit on Saturday.
BLACKBURN is in – and reigning premier Noble Park is out.
The Burners nabbed a last-gasp finals berth on Saturday, pipping the Bulls for sixth spot after sensationally upsetting fourth-placed East Ringwood, 13.5 (83) to 7.15 (57).
Getting into the ultimate home-and-away spherical in seventh place sharing a 9-8 report with Noble Park (sixth), the finals equation was easy for Blackburn – financial institution a win and hope for a Bulls loss.
Holding some 14 per cent benefit on sixth, Noble Park fell to Balwyn by 20 factors with the consequence all however ending its marketing campaign, because the Burners completed the season on 10 wins to scrape in by 4 factors.
Blackburn will meet Balwyn in an elimination remaining at Bayswater Oval this weekend.
Blackburn senior coach Brendan Allen remarked Saturday’s efficiency as one in all his facet’s most full this season.
“We may solely management our sport and we needed to have a little bit of luck with Balwyn and Noble,” Allen mentioned.
“Park Orchards might be the sport just a few weeks again that we take a look at … if we had received that carried out we wouldn’t have been in that cliffhanging place.
“It was an ideal crew effort and possibly one of many extra full crew wins we’ve had this 12 months.
“To get it carried out and lead into finals with that kind of kind, it’s pleasing.”
It’s Blackburn’s fifth consecutive finals look – and fourth underneath Allen – with the membership making finals annually throughout his time in cost.
“That’s the goal – all the time to get to finals after which it resets and it begins once more, whether or not you win 14 video games or 10 video games,” Allen mentioned.
“Clearly we received yet another sport this 12 months than final 12 months.”
The ‘Roos edged forward by three factors at quarter-time earlier than the Burners kicked 13 factors clear on the primary break.
Forward by 15 on the remaining change, Allen credited his facet’s work on the stoppages within the final time period – with younger gun Will Oglethorpe standing as much as the problem of a formidable East Ringwood midfield.
“They’re clearly a extremely good midfield outfit with the massive ruckman (Adam) Swierzbiolek and (James) Belo … he’s a freak, and I’ve by no means seen anybody hit a contest as onerous as he does by way of stoppage,” Allen mentioned.
“We had been clearly lacking Jason Learn and Fraser Elliot, our larger mids, and (they’re) typically in a position to include somebody like Belo however we had younger Will Oglethorpe in there who received the under-19s league best-and-fairest final 12 months.
“He’s been taking part in wing and half-forward when he’s come up … however we put him in there (midfield) he acquitted himself rather well.
“Our boys simply fought tooth and nail and received it carried out.”
Elliot (hamstring) may probably return this weekend, whereas the coach refused to rule out Learn as he races the clock with an ankle harm.
“Understanding him, he’ll be on the monitor this week pushing as onerous as he can, as a result of he loves this time of 12 months,” Allen mentioned.
Blackburn 2.2, 6.3, 8.3, 13.5 (83)
East Ringwood 2.5, 3.8, 4.12, 7.15 (57)
Blackburn
Targets:
B. Hicks 4, L. Downie 3, P. Lawlor 2, C. Oglethorpe, J. Brown, W. Oglethorpe, S. Hudson
Greatest:
T. Faulkner, L. Harry, L. Bugeja, P. Lawlor, C. Oglethorpe, B. Hicks
East Ringwood
Targets:
S. Walsh 2, H. Mundy, E. Wynne, T. Farmer, Z. Cileceken, J. Belo
Greatest:
C. Norris, J. Weightman, J. Belo, C. Cerni, M. Keedle, A. Swierzbiolek
Initially revealed as EFNL Premier Division: Blackburn steals sixth as reigning premier Noble Park misses finals
