By Stephen Walter
IN A high-standard performance and in front of a huge crowd at Woori Yallock Reserve, Upwey Tecoma reigned supreme by 31 points over Woori Yallock in the YVMDFL Division One grand final.
It was Upwey’s first senior flag for 10 years.
Upwey had been the dominant team all season and went into the grand final as hot favourites.
Woori Yallock weren’t far behind and in fact was the only team to have beaten Upwey in the home and away season.
In perfect football conditions the scene was set for a great game of football. The main event started with an inspiring display by 11-year-old Chenile Chandler from Healesville singing the national anthem.
Woori Yallock started the game in good style and was winning more of the 50/50 contests, and by quarter time, led by nine points.
The margin should have been greater if not for some inaccuracy as the 3.6 to 2.3 scoreline would suggest.
Upwey came out in the second term and showed the crowd why they were favourites with an outstanding eight-goal quarter, where David Bell possibly played the best quarter of football in his career kicking five of those eight goals.
Upwey’s run and sharing of the football was brilliant. By half time they had turned a nine-point deficit into what was thought to be a match winning 41-point lead.
Woori Yallock weren’t going to roll over and in the third quarter they produced some of their best football.
All of a sudden Woori started winning more of the ball and started hitting the scoreboard on a regular basis.
Woori Yallock kicked seven unanswered goals and got within one point of Upwey.
Upwey steadied the ship a little with two late goals in the third quarter – and that was the margin going into the last quarter.
This game was set for a great finish and for the first 10 minutes of the last quarter no team could grab the ascendancy.
It was Upwey however that finally got the scoreboard ticking over and, as gallant as Woori Yallock was, it was Upwey that eventually broke the back of Woori by booting five goals to two to put the result beyond doubt.
Upwey’s Tyson Heinrich was a star all day and named best on the ground with an exemplary performance.
Upwey Tecoma 17.14.116 d Woori Yallock 12.13.85.
Best: Upwey Tecoma: Tom Hedge, Daniel Sheers, Sam Waters and David Bell. Woori Yallock: Patrick Sharp, Matthew Wright, Mitchell Bonuda and Mathew Stolarczyk.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:RESERVES
Upwey Tecoma v Monbulk
The first 10 minutes of this game wasn’t pretty football as both sides seemed to be very nervous on the big stage. Upwey did settle the better and by quarter time had four goals on the board, while Monbulk could only manage one goal for the term.
Upwey only kicked two goals in the second term but unfortunately for Monbulk they could only manage one major and at half time Upwey lead by an even four goals.
The third quarter was a carbon copy of the second with Upwey booting two goals to Monbulk’s one, stretching Upwey’s lead to 30 points at the last change.
Monbulk would have to produce their best football to have any chance of pulling off victory but Upwey were never going to let that happen.
Upwey finished the day with a three-goal-to-two last quarter that saw them double Monbulk’s score and win with a consistent four-quarter performance.
Upwey Tecoma 11.8.74 d Monbulk 5.7.37.
Best: Upwey Tecoma: Shane Thomas, Darren Spence and Ben Waters. Monbulk: Paul Bartlett, Damian Smethurst and Shaun Klep.
@BT Sport Sub Mail:UNDER 18
Mt Evelyn v Monbulk
The future of our football is only as good as the juniors coming through. There is no doubt our future is secure after what has been a sensational under-18 competition this season.
In a nail-biter – the margin just seven points – Monbulk defied all odds in what was one of the most magnificent team efforts seen for many years in the under-18 Division One grand final.
Mt Evelyn was always assured of a finals’ berth, Monbulk however had to fight hard for their position and had to win their last game of the season to make it.
Monbulk managed to win their last game by a mere five points … and snuck into the finals in fifth place.
After defeating the more highly fancied Warburton, Healesville and Upwey teams during their finals’ campaign, Monbulk appeared to be improving as a team from week to week, although Mt Evelyn did look the team to beat in the grand final.
Nevertheless, Monbulk showed the football public that anything is possible, with an awesome team performance.
The crowd was treated to a fantastic game of football where it was a shame that there had to be a loser. Both these sides are blessed with some exceptional talent that was truly on display here.
Mt Evelyn looked the more dangerous early and at quarter time held a two-goal lead, 4.2 to 2.2.
The next two quarters were a real arm wrestle as it went goal for goal with no team able to gain a handy lead.
Mt Evelyn went into the last quarter leading by a slender five points. The crowd had already been treated to a great display of football but that was nothing compared to the frantic last quarter.
Mt Evelyn got out to an 11-point lead midway through the quarter but Monbulk booted the next two goals and hit the lead for the first time in the game with just minutes left on the clock.
Monbulk kicked one more major and held on to win by seven points.
This was a brilliant victory by Monbulk who are now YVMDFL Division One Under 18 Champions for 2009. Congratulations to Monbulk on a great performance.
Monbulk 9.6.60 d Mount Evelyn 8.5.53.
Monbulk’s Benjamin Bedford-Lee starred not only in the grand final but he was at his brilliant best in all finals games. Ben was named best on ground in an awesome display.
Best: Monbulk: Sam Whittington and Dylan Werts. Mt Evelyn: Callum Urquhart, Jackson Fellows (with six goals) and Anthony Smart.
