AFL Outer East: Upwey Tecoma v Woori Yallock promised plenty, but who comes out on top?
With the AFL Outer East Tigers, Upwey Tecoma and Woori Yallock, having plenty to prove early in the season, this weekend’s tussle at Chosen Ave would have been a beauty. Though COVID-19 prevented the clash, WHO WINS IT?
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Saturday’s Round 4 clash between Upwey Tecoma and Woori Yallock at the Upwey Recreation Reserve loomed as an early-season test of credentials.
Upwey Tecoma recruited brilliantly over the summer and seemed set to be the competition’s most improved side while Woori Yallock lost four of its finest players but still managed to assemble a very even squad.
Unfortunately, with sport in a COVID-19 lockdown, fans have been robbed of an interesting tussle.
Today we take a glance into the crystal ball and try to decide ‘who wins it?’.
AFL Outer East
Premier Division
Round 4 (Saturday, May 9): Upwey Tecoma v Woori Yallock (Upwey Recreation Reserve)
THE RECORD: RECENT HEAD-TO-HEADs
2019
Round 16: Woori Yallock 23.20 (158) to 6.16 (52) at Woori Yallock
Round 7: Woori Yallock 14.16 (100) to 12.12 (84) at Upwey
2018
Round 11: Woori Yallock 16.14 (110) to 8.8 (56) at Woori Yallock
Round 2: Upwey Tecoma 13.5 (83) to 10.14 (74) at Upwey
2017
Round 10: Upwey Tecoma 10.11 (71) to 5.13 (43) at Upwey
Round 1: Woori Yallock 21.9 (145) to 6.10 (46) at Woori Yallock
2016
Elimination final: Woori Yallock 16.15 (111) to 11.10 (76) at Yarra Junction
Round 12: Woori Yallock 15.17 (107) to 6.10 (46) at Woori Yallock
Round 3: Woori Yallock 19.16 (130) to 15.7 (97) at Upwey
2015
Round 16: Woori Yallock 12.11 (83) to 10.8 (68) at Upwey
Round 9: Woori Yallock 12.13 (85) to 6.8 (44) at Woori Yallock
2014
Qualifying final: Woori Yallock 12.13 (85) to 12.4 (76) at Healesville
Round 14: Upwey Tecoma 8.8 (56) to 7.12 (54) at Upwey
Round 5: Woori Yallock 8.11 (59) to 7.13 (55) at Woori Yallock
Woori Yallock is 11-3 in matches against Upwey Tecoma since the start of the 2014 season
MORE FOOTY NEWS
AFL OUTER EAST SURVEYS ITS PLAYERS
CLUB SAYS WE CAN’T PLAY WITHOUT CROWDS
PUSH FOR AFL TO FUND VFL SEASON
THE VENUE: UPWEY TIGERS AT HOME
2019: LWLLLLLW (2-6)
2018: WWWWWWWLW (8-1)
2017: WWWWWLWWL (7-2)
2016: WWWLLWWLW (6-3)
Upwey Tecoma is 23-12 at the Upwey Recreation Reserve since 2016 but, if you take out last season’s 2-6 which included the advent of the SEFNL clubs and the first season of AFL Outer East footy, the Tigers have a 21-6 record between 2016 and 2018 against AFL Yarra Ranges clubs — they play the tight confines of their Chosen Ave lair particularly well and can never be discounted on their home turf.
THE PLAYERS: 2020 RECRUITING
Upwey Tecoma
There is little doubt Upwey Tecoma, along with Doveton, were the busiest of all clubs in the off-season. Fresh off back-to-back premiership wins with Eastern league powerhouse Vermont, Adam Parker was signed as non-playing coach. The former Eagles vice-captain brought with him a wealth of experience at suburban footy’s top club and was busy over summer assembling a more-than-handy list. Star Norwood defender Stuart Hill was quickly signed as was East Ringwood tall timber Jarryd Ambrose. Andrew Bartils (Vermont), Matthew Sier (Mazenod), Jason Loomes (Cora Lynn), Jason Bennington (Montrose), Jared Webb (Belgrave), Oscar Grimes (South Belgrave), Josh Hannon (Boronia), Lachlan Marolla (Noble Park), Lachlan Roberts (The Basin), Simon Orenshaw (East Ringwood) and Ben Beecroft (Mount Waverley) were also lured up the mountain to Chosen Ave as Upwey Tecoma assembled its strongest squad in years.
Woori Yallock
Last season Woori Yallock was best-placed of the former AFL Yarra Ranges clubs in the inaugural AFL Outer East season. But it’s a very different Tigers line-up this year, with a host of personnel changes in the off-season. Some of the losses were significant: Jordy Williams and the Monkhorst brothers, Zach and Ben, joined EFNL’s South Croydon while 2010 premiership player Michael Riseley signed with Upper Ferntree Gully. Premiership player Joel Coombs headed to Division 2 side Warburton Millgrove as did Christian Cameron and former Tigers junior Trent Elliott. On the plus side of the ledger, Woori signed Matt McArthur, a defender/ruckman who spent time at Montrose and Powelltown, while Seville premiership forward Josh Neal also came on board. Archie Smith, a developing ruckman from Mansfield; Brad Clark, a premiership player with Yarra Junction boasting Premier Division experience at Healesville, and Kyal McNeil, an experienced defender with Hampton Rovers in the VAFA, also signed on. The Tigers have also welcomed the return of a number of experienced players from long-term injury, including Rob Allen, Campbell Smedley, Luke Bootjies and Michael Batten.
THE TIPSTERS: THOSE IN THE KNOW RECKON
Danny Ryan (Woori Yallock triple premiership player and coach)
“I don’t think the ground worries Woori so much these days. I think they play it quite well.
“Both teams have recruited quite well and they’ve changed a lot. Upwey have picked up some really good players and I think they would be the big improvers this year. Woori have lost their big four (Williams, Risely and the Monkhorst brothers) but they’ve picked up really well. They’ll be a much more even side than in the past. Looking at Woori during the pre-season they were really fit, their pre-season was brutal.”
Ryan’s tip: “It’s a toss of the coin. I’m going to be biased and put my Woori hat on and say Woori, maybe by a point.”
Brendan Donovan (Olinda Ferny Creek premiership coach 2017)
“You have to be careful about worrying about the size of the ground too much. It is a cauldron, it can be quite inhospitable out there but the surface is really good and you’ve just got to get out there and play footy. Transition out of defence into attack is important. The real challenge for both teams will be getting a bit of consistency into their group. When ‘Jack’ (Bryan Cole) coaches, in his first few years he has a real impact. He brings in seven or eight new players and they’ll all want to do well.”
Donovan’s tip: “Can I tip a draw? They’re both going to be a bit inconsistent early on.
Nick Rutley (Wandin premiership coach 2018)
“It’s one of the most hated places to go and play footy. You’ve got to get a good start and take the sting out of the crowd early. If you can take the tempo out of the game and play it on your terms over on the top side of the ground (the size of the ground doesn’t matter so much). We were always conscious of (Dan) Waters but it was always (Kyle) Grenda we had a lot of trouble with. It’s a new era for both teams. That change will be good for Woori, they won’t be so predictable and there’s some good young guys who will get a big chance. (Adam) Parker comes in with a whole new mindset. It’s a blank canvas to work with.”
Rutley’s tip: “Upwey, but not by much. maybe 13 points.
THE CRYSTAL BALL: WHO WINS IT?
Plenty on the line early in the season. Upwey Tecoma, after recruiting well, would be keen to improve after a disappointing 2019 while Woori Yallock would be determined to show it’s still a contender despite the departure of a number of stars. The small Chosen Ave ground is tailor-made for a big forward like Dan Waters and Upwey plays its home ground well, though our experts reckon it’s not quite the advantage it used to be.
Who wins it: Upwey Tecoma by 10 points.
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