EFL 2019: Templestowe recruits Liam McKenna and Tim Stewart star in big win over Scoresby

Templestowe’s recruits helped it dispose of one of last year’s Eastern Football League finalists for a second consecutive week after an 85-point drubbing of Scoresby.

Jason Davenport has joined Templestowe from North Shore. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Templestowe disposed of one of last year’s Eastern Football League finalists for a second consecutive week after an 85-point drubbing of Scoresby on Saturday.

Recruits Liam McKenna and Tim Stewart were pivotal in the 17.10 (112) to 4.3 (27) result after arriving at the club from Western Australia on the eve of the season.

McKenna played 69 WAFL league games, including 18 at Peel Thunder, and Stewart made nine senior appearances for South Fremantle between 2015 and 2016.

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“They’ve been massive recruits,” Templestowe coach Craig De Corsey said.

“Just to have those experienced quality midfielders, which we didn’t have last year to help the likes of (Daniel) Pearce and these sort of players has been huge.”

Liam McKenna finds himself at the bottom of a pack. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

Former Port Adelaide and Geelong midfielder Jason Davenport, 33, also kicked two goals on debut for Templestowe after being cleared to the club during the week.

Davenport played 28 games at Port Adelaide between 2009 and 2011 and also featured in Geelong’s VFL premiership in 2007, named in the Team of the Year that season.

He recently served as coach of Geelong league club North Shore before joining Carlton in a development role.

The weekend’s win came on the back of the Round 1 victory over last year’s runner-up Ringwood, suggesting Templestowe could be one of the sides to watch in Division 2 in 2019.

Former West Australian underage representative Joseph Ugle is also aligned with the Dockers but has signed with VFL club North Melbourne.

Jason Davenport celebrates a goal during his time at Port Adelaide.

De Corsey said the key additions and internal development had been the key to Templestowe’s 2-0 start.

“We’ve got some quality recruits in this year and also just the growth of the boys from last year learning how to play senior footy,” he said.

“I think it’s been a bit of natural progression from those younger kids coming through and we’ve added some quality as well to help.

“We didn’t really had an expectation on where we’d be but after the first two rounds, we’ve sort of set the bar now. We obviously believe we can compete against the best sides in the comp.”

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