Hawk hands: Rowville’s Marc Hardy gets a handball away despite a tackle from Mooroolbark’s James Charge on Saturday. Picture: Sam Stiglec
ROWVILLE coach Paul Mynott has called his side's Eastern Football League division 2 grand final a defining moment in the club's history.
The Hawks will play Montrose at Jubilee Park, Ringwood, this Saturday and Mynott believes the club has never been in a stronger position to move into and then prosper in division 1.
The Hawks and Demons could barely be separated during the season with the Hawks taking the minor premiership by a game but losing to the Demons in the second semi-final.
The Demons believe they too are ready for division 1 but it appears the loser of the grand final will be left to play in division 2 for another season.
"It's a massive challenge to make a grand final; then trying to win one is even tougher," Mynott said. "In the history of this football club we have never been in as good a position to go up and challenge sides in division 1. We are in our best position in our history and we will be in the same boat win, lose or draw, but I won't be happy unless we come away with it."
In the elimination semi-final, the Hawks never gave Mooroolbark a chance, rushing out to a five-goal lead at quarter time showing plenty of hunger after losing to the Demons in the major semi-final.
Nikolas Schoenmakers, Gavin Willoughby, Jay Kinder and Luke Scanlan all starred in the win while returned full-forward Cody Morris kicked six goals.
"That loss turned out to be a blessing in disguise," Mynott said. "We had won 10 straight games leading into the finals and the loss gave us a good chance to reflect on the areas we were lacking in. When you are winning, a lot of times you go over the top of what you are doing wrong. We addressed some of those issues throughout the week, then were ready to go."
Mynott also acknowledged he would certainly face a torrid time at selection this week, with captain Matt Stanley and ruckman Mitch Garner fighting to prove their fitness and play in the grand final.
He said he had told both players they would not be risked if they couldn't prove their fitness by game day even though he ranks Stanley as the best player in the league and Garner the best ruckman.
"Someone, maybe a couple of players will be very, very disappointed," Mynott said. "It's hard to change a side that won by 70 points so when you look along those lines, someone will be hurt."
Mynott and Montrose coach Brett Johnson have spoken highly of each other's sides and observers across the league predicting a knife-edge finish. Johnson put it in simple terms. "It will be a fascinating duel," he said.
Rowville plays Montrose in the EFL division 2 grand final at Jubilee Park, Ringwood on Saturday 2.30pm.
FINAL SCORES:
Eastern Football League:
Division 1:qualifying final, Vermont 16.7 (103) d Scoresby 8.15 (63); Reserves, qualifying final, Noble Park 8.6 (54) d Knox 6.7 (43); elimination final, Balwyn 13.14 (92) d Noble Park 8.7 (55); Reserves, East Ringwood 6.10 (46) d Norwood 5.6 (36).
Division 2:preliminary final, Rowville 14.16 (100) d Mooroolbark 4.6 (30); Reserves, preliminary final, Upper Ferntree Gully 13.12 (90) d Mooroolbark 6.5 (41).
Division 3:semi-final 2, North Ringwood 16.12 (108) d Glen Waverley Hawks 11.11 (77); Reserves, semi-final 2, Boronia 11.11 (77) d Wantirna South 6.7 (43); elimination semi-final, Boronia 18.10 (118) d Ringwood 10.11 (71); Reserves, North Ringwood 12.12 (84) d Ringwood 5.6 (36).
Division 4: elimination semi-final, Silvan 12.24 (96) d Ferntree Gully 10.7 (67); Reserves, The Basin 18.8 (116) d Nunawading 10.5 (65); semi-final 2, The Basin 14.13 (97) d South Belgrave 10.13 (73); Reserves, Forest Hill 11.10 (76) d South Belgrave 7.9 (51).
Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League:
Division 1: qualifying final, Woori Yallock 18.17 (125) d Wandin 12.15 (87); elimination final, Upwey Tecoma 12.9 (81) d Monbulk 9.11 (65); Reserves, qualifying final, Warburton Millgrove 15.12 (102) d Wandin 10.6 (66); elimination final, Warburton Millgrove 15.12 (102) d Wandin 10.6 (66).
Division 2: Seniors, semi-final 2, Yarra Glen 24.11 (155) d Belgrave 16.13 (109); semi-final 1, Seville 21.11 (137) d Powelltown 16.7 (103); Reserves, semi-final 2, Belgrave 10.7 (67) d Seville 8.13 (61); semi-final 1, Yarra Glen 13.15 (93) d Powelltown 10.7 (67).
■ For full results go to knoxweekly.com.au/sport
THIS WEEK'S FINALS
Eastern Football League:
Division 1: semi-final 2, Norwood v Vermont, Bayswater Oval, 2.10pm; Reserves, Vermont v Noble Park, 11.45am; elimination semi-final, Scoresby v Balwyn, Tormore Reserve, Sunday 2.10pm; Reserves, Knox v East Ringwood, Sunday 11.45am.
Division 2: grand final, Montrose v Rowville, Jubilee Park, Ringwood 2.30pm; Reserves, Montrose v Upper Ferntree Gully, 11.50am; u19s grand final, Doncaster East v Upper Ferntree Gully, 9.40am.
Division 3: preliminary final, Glen Waverley Hawks v Boronia, East Burwood Reserve, 2.10pm; Reserves, Wantirna South v North Ringwood, 11.45am.
Division 4: preliminary final, Silvan v South Belgrave, Walker Park, Mitcham Sunday 2.10pm; Reserves, The Basin v Forest Hill, Sunday 11.45am.
Yarra Valley Mountain District FL:
Division 1: major semi-final, Gembrook Cockatoo v Woori Yallock, Yarra Junction 2.10pm; elimination final, Wandin v Upwey Tecoma, Warburton-Millgrove 2.10pm; Reserves,major semi-final, Upwey-Tecoma v Healesville, Yarra Junction 12.05pm; elimination semi-final, Gembrook Cockatoo v Warburton-Millgrove, Warburton-Millgrove 2.10pm.
Division 2: preliminary final, Belgrave v Seville, Woori Yallock Sunday 2.10pm; Reserves, Seville v Yarra Glen, Woori Yallock Sunday 12.05pm.
All games on Saturday unless otherwise stated.