Win sets up clash of the titans

By Ben O’Brien, CEO, YVMDFL
THE stage has been set for one of the biggest Division One grand finals in the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League (YVMDFL) for some years, with Silvan marching into this week’s decider straight over the top of Upwey-Tecoma in Sunday’s preliminary final.
After an even opening quarter, the Cats exploded in the second term, kicking 11 goals to leave the Tigers shell-shocked going into the main break.
Unfortunately for Upwey supporters the pain didn’t end there, as Silvan kicked another 10 goals in the third quarter to emphasise the gap between the two sides.
Upwey did salvage some respect in the fourth quarter, but the final score was an accurate reflection of the day: Silvan 31.12.198 to Upwey 15.8.98.
Fifteen goals is not usually a bad score, but the dominance of Silvan was complete.
Ben Haynes was everywhere, setting up goals or kicking them himself, to finish with an even 10 goals for the afternoon, and David Bissells had a day out in the ruck against two opponents, saying nothing of the efforts of Goodlet, Moorcroft and Bullen, among others.
Upwey was simply outclassed by a side that, in the second and third quarters, put on an exhibition of some of the best footy played in the YVMDFL.
Jarrod Clarke, Eamonn Keogh and Michael Charles battled hard all day, but the Cats were just too good.
Woori Yallock players and staff were interested observers, and would have gone away with plenty of food for thought for this Saturday.
In the reserves, Warburton-Millgrove defeated Upwey to book a grand final place against Monbulk, while Upwey’s under 18s got the day off to a good start for Tiger fans, hanging on to defeat Monbulk by five points, and will face Healesville this week.
In netball action, Woori Yallock will play Mt Evelyn after the Rovers defeated Warburton-Millgrove by a goal, while the Burras fared better in B Grade, defeating Monbulk on the way to a game with Mt Evelyn this week.