EFL 2018: Upper Ferntree Gully rises into Division 2 premiership contention

UPPER Ferntree Gully has flown under the radar in the Eastern Football League this year but its latest win has it among the Division 2 premiership contenders.

Injured Upper Ferntree Gully coach Joel Perry. Picture: Davis Harrigan

UPPER Ferntree Gully coach Joel Perry is happy to fly under the radar.

The Kings have been the quiet achievers of this year’s Division 2 premiership race, sitting outside the top two by a game after a confidence-boosting win over perennial contender Doncaster East in Round 13.

RIDDLE EYEING FLAG SUCCESS AT THE HAWKS

SHARKS FIRM AS DIVISION 1 FLAG THREAT

After claiming the 2016 Division 3 flag, Upper Gully is in contention to become just the fifth club to win two flags in the space of three years coming up from the third tier.

Perry, who is hopeful of returning from a soft tissue injury on Saturday, said he was happy his side was out of the limelight.

Brad Kelleher has been one of Upper Ferntree Gully’s top performers in 2018. Picture: Davis Harrigan

“I was thinking about it the other day, there’s been a lot of talk about Park Orchards, whether they win or lose, everyone talks about them a little bit every week,” Perry said.

“I was just thinking whether I mind that we don’t really get that much attention but I probably don’t, it’s probably been good for our group.

“Everyone reads most of your guys’ articles and the stuff on the EFL, so happy for our guys to not really be exposed to that and just worry about what we’re doing.”

After a nine-win season last year, first-year coach Perry said his side’s improvement had come from within.

Star defender Perry, his former Vermont teammate Daniel Reid and under-19 players Nathan Bardsley (Scoresby) and Ethan Grose (Rowville) were the only inclusions of note over the summer.

Tom Meagher and Matt Lee have starred for the Kings this year, while the experienced trio of Tim Risely, Mike Smith and Brad Kelleher have also regularly been in Upper Gully’s best players.

“I still think there is massive improvement, we’re not massively going to be a flag favourite and I actually don’t want us to be, I’m happy with where we are,” Perry said.

“I would be wrapped with making the finals and that’s what I set out to do at the start of the year, but now with where we sit, the players, if anything, can get some added belief that maybe we can go a bit further.”

Upper Gully’s next game will be against Mulgrave on Saturday.