EFNL 2025: Resurgent Rowville ends East Ringwood's unbeaten run
What a way to arrest a form slump.
Rowville sent its Eastern league Premier Division flag rivals a resounding warning on Saturday, handing East Ringwood its first loss of the season.
Fresh off a 138-point demolition of Mitcham, the Hawks' 13.10 (88) to 8.11 (59) victory puts their season back on track following a three-game losing streak.
Rowville senior coach Ben Wise said the mid-year bye served to refresh his battle-weary side after losses to Blackburn, Berwick and Doncaster East.
'Since the break we've come back a different side – the break came at a good time for us … we were a bit battered and bruised,' he said.
'They've come back well, and then to come up against the benchmark … we had a plan that we thought if we stuck to it, we'd be able to get them.'
The evergreen Matt Davey finished best afield with three goals as the Hawks pulled ahead by 15 points by three-quarter time.
'He's getting better with age,' Wise said.
'He's such a fit bugger, attacks the contest fiercely, create something out of nothing and was really crafty forward of centre. He was able to fly for his marks and then convert in front of goal.
'He's been super this year – he's missed three games which were our three losses, so he thinks he's the difference at the moment.'
Matt Evans, Lachlan McDonald, Anthony Brolic, Joshua Clarke and Jesse Eickhoff rounded out the Hawks' best.
Meanwhile, the back six kept arguably the league's most potent forward trio – Josh Fox, Riley Weatherill and Remy Maclean – to a combined five majors.
Young gun Cal Verrell stood the towering Fox, who finished with two goals.
'They've (East Ringwood) got some weapons up there which was always going to be my concern … my boys were a bit undersized and (were able to) bring it to ground,' Wise said.
The coach also lauded debutant Lachlan Toomey, who earned a call-up after booting four goals in the reserves last round.
'We needed a hybrid third tall and he came in and played that role – he kicked a goal and he was playing on a good player (Callum Norris), so he did well,' Wise said.
'It's just good to promote another kid against good opposition and give him a taste of it.'
The result lifted the Hawks to a 6-3 record for third spot ahead of their Round 10 away clash with Noble Park.
Wise said his side's recent form slump was 'more above the shoulders'.
'We just had to get back to what we know is our best and that's playing team-first, strong on defence and attacking the contest really strongly,' he said.
'We're under no illusion that it's going to be tough, but we have obviously shown that having anywhere close to our full-strength side and play our way, we're going to be hard to beat, I believe.'
East Ringwood remains first on the ladder with an 8-1 record.
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