AFL Yarra Ranges: Mount Evelyn still a finals chance, but coach Mark Fisher says there are even biggier things over the horizon

Mount Evelyn is a game out of the five, 7-6 with five to come, but it hasn’t given up on hopes of playing in September.

Mount Evelyn coach Mark Fisher has high hopes for his young squad Picture: James Ross

Mount Evelyn is a game out of the AFL Yarra Ranges top five, 7-6 with five to come.

While many teams would put the cue in the rack and start eyeing 2019, the Rovers have not given up on hopes of playing in September.

Indeed, in this the closest Division 1 season in years and with a favourable run home, Mount may yet do some damage at the business end of the season.

“With this season being so close, we’re around the mark,” coach Mark Fisher said.

“We’re about where we should be, we lost a couple we should have won against quality sides.

“Win those and we’d be right up there at the pointy end.”

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In the run home, Mount has two games against teams below it on the ladder — Warburton Millgrove and Monbulk — as well as what looms as a make-or-break clash with fifth-ranked Healesville.

The home-and-away campaign then finishes with home matches against the two most likely grand finalists, Olinda Ferny Creek and Woori Yallock, to close out the season.

“I think we match up pretty well against them,” Fisher said of Olinda Ferny Creek. “(And) people who’ve been around the club for a while tell me we always do pretty well against (Woori) at home.

“We’ve just got to pinch two (against teams higher-ranked on the ladder).”

But, win lose or draw, Mount Evelyn has made remarkable progress this year and Fisher said the foundations are being laid for successful seasons ahead.

Thomas Chalkley celebrates a goal against Monbulk Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Last year we finished six games out of the finals and a huge chunk of percentage,” he said.

“(This year) We’ve played 12 or 13 guys, 22 years or under, every week.

“I’m really pleased with how they are going. They’ve learned a whole new game plan.”

With youth comes inconsistency and, while the Rovers have knocked of both Healesville and Olinda Ferny Creek this season, they have been guilty of frustrating lapses that have proven to be costly.

“Against Upwey, we were two points down at quarter-time I think, then they kicked five goals in the first 12 minutes of the second quarter,” Fisher said.

“We just spent too many petrol tickets getting back into it.

“When they do what we want them to do, they are really good. But then they drop away.”

In his first season at the helm, Fisher has made a few changes that are starting to have an impact, chief of which has been the introduction of a strength and conditioning coach.

“We’ve had one soft tissue injury all season, “ he said. “On Tuesdays the guys don’t come to training sore and just look for a massage and then run a few laps. They are ready to train.”

Fisher has also made use of club legend Lauren Tesoriero, the Collingwood AFL women’s star coaching the forwards this year.

“She’s been around the place for a hundred years,” Fisher laughed. “But she’s fantastic. She knows the game and she sees the game really well and the response (from the players) has been fantastic.”

Fisher said, with the continuing development of his young squad and the addition of a couple of experienced recruits, Mount Evelyn would be ready to give things a big shake next season.

“I’ve recommitted until 2020, because I think we’ve got something special here,” he said.

MOUNT EVELYN

7-6 (sixth)

Last five games

v Healesville (fifth) away

v Warburton Millgrove (10th) home

v Monbulk (seventh) away

v Olinda Ferny Creek (top) home

v Woori Yallock (second) home