By MICHAEL HABER
EAST Keilor has earned promotion to Essendon Ford Division 1 with a thrilling Grand Final win over Roxburgh Park.
In what was one of the most exciting EDFL Grand Finals of recent history, the Cougars won in an arm wrestle by 10 points.
The Magpies kicked the first goal of the game but it was all East Keilor in the first quarter.
The Cougars kicked five goals, including two from Vincent Madaffari, to put early scoreboard pressure on the Magpies.
Roxburgh Park tackled hard, however, and didn’t make it easy for East Keilor but the pressure eventually got to the Magpies as the Cougars started controlling the midfield.
It was almost a role reversal of the Semi Final match the two sides played only two weeks prior.
The Cougars went into the change with a 19-point lead after Ben Stone kicked a much-needed goal for the Magpies.
The second quarter saw the tables turn, with the Magpies becoming the dominant force of the game.
Roxburgh Park kept up their physicality in an attempt to get under their opponents’ skins but they were often penalised as not everything they did was allowed by the rule book.
East Keilor managed to stay composed throughout the onslaught but were unable to score a major until late in the quarter thanks to a 50-metre penalty awarded to Brendan Lucas.
The Cougars looked scared to penetrate the 50, opting for the short pass instead and this often led to a turnover.
The division’s leading goalkicker, Luke Capuano, kicked his first goal of the game after a few missed opportunities to help take his side into the main break chasing a one-point deficit.
The third quarter was goal for goal.
Both sides attacked with ferocity and fire and this showed as scuffled broke out across the ground.
Aaron Szwedyc and Ryan Kannegiesser did most of the hard hitting, much to the liking of their supporters but much to the dislike of the Cougars’ fans.
After a mark in the back line from one of the best performers on the ground, Will Guest, another scuffle broke out after he was bumped straight off his feet.
A melee involving most of both sides broke out but Guest was taken down to his goal square thanks to a succession of three 50-metre penalties.
Luke Capuano kept his cool during the quarter adding two goals to his tally but it was not enough.
East Keilor managed to stay composed and after a heroic spoil and inside 50 from Madaffari, Brendan Lucas managed to put his side up by 13 points at the final break of the season.
Tim Blacker set the Magpies’ hopes alight with a goal right at the beginning of the final quarter.
Desperation kicked in for Roxburgh Park as they threw everything at the cool, calm and collected East Keilor side.
Their efforts were rewarded as a goal from Szwedyc got the scores level and a few points got the Magpies the lead by three points.
East Keilor kept their heads under pressure though and goals from Sean Curtis and skipper Madaffari gave their side back the lead.
Roxburgh Park’s last glimmer of hope was completely snuffed out by Luke Capuano as he kicked his second out-on-the-full of the game from a set shot.
As the final siren sounded, the East Keilor faithful ran onto the ground with jubilation.
Roxburgh Park were yet again left disappointed, still without a flag after three successive to two finishes.
ROXBURGH PARK | 11.10-76
Goal Kickers: L. Capuano 3, T. Blacker 3, T. Hamza 2, J. Caruana, B. Stone, A. Szwedyc
Best Players: H. Short, B. Dimech, T. Blacker, R. Kannegiesser, S. Dawson, J. Caruana
EAST KEILOR | 13.8-86
Goal Kickers: V. Madaffari 4, B. Lucas 3, D. Lysaght 2, S. Curtis, D. Wakefield, L. Conidi, W. Guest
Best Players: V. Madaffari, W. Guest, P. Tsavdaridis, B. Lucas, J. Madden, C. Bryant
