EFL: Star on-baller Tom Meagher departs Upper Gully

One of Upper Ferntree Gully’s most distinguished stars has departed the EFL Division 1 club and is set to join the Queensland league. Kings president Damien Lowe pays tribute to the outgoing mid...

Tom Meagher in action for the Kings. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Upper Ferntree Gully has waved goodbye to one of its leaders with a star on-baller on the move to the Queensland league.

Former VFL Coburg-listed inside-mid Tom Meagher has lodged a transfer to the sunshine state, where Upper Gully president Damien Lowe said he’s set to link up with former Kings teammate Matt Lee at QAFL club Labrador.

Meagher, a premiership player with the Kings in their all-conquering 2016 season in Division 3, has been one of the club’s standout performers since debuting in the senior ranks in 2015, highlighted by a top-three placing in the comp’s Wright Medal in 2018 and a runner-up finish in 2019. He has achieved consecutive Team of the Year honours across the past two seasons.

Meagher sends the Kings into attack. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

Lowe said Meagher was making the move for a “lifestyle change” and said the best and fairest winner would be welcome back at Kings Park should he return.

“He wants to go and work up in Queensland to see what it’s like,” Lowe said.

“We’re disappointed, there’s no doubt about it, he’s a gun … we wish him all the best and we’d welcome him back with open arms and I don’t think he’d go anywhere else if he does come back ... or he might give VFL another try.

“With the expansion of the VFL into the eastern seaboard it might open the door for him, so there’s a few opportunities for him.”

Lowe praised Meagher’s contribution to the club, having progressed from the junior ranks to the seniors and said his on-field, hard-at-it style could be tough to replace.

“He’s been a loyal contributor for the years he’s been playing ones, he’s had opportunities to go elsewhere and play a higher standard, but he’s hung around – this is an opportunity for him to do something different in life,” he said.

“There’s not a lot of players that play his brand – he’s a bull, breaks lines and he’s so tough in and around it … we’re going to do what we can do and we’ll see what happens.”

The club recently appointed its new senior coach in former star VFL defender Luke Tynan, following the resignation of Stephen De Luca.

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