EFNL 2021: Upper Ferntree Gully’s breakthrough a step forward, coach says

Upper Gully toughed it out to snare its first win of the season on Saturday, also marking coach Luke Tynan’s maiden victory...

Upper Gully coach Luke Tynan hopes Saturday’s win is the start of something bigger. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

It had been a long time coming, but Upper Ferntree Gully broke through for its first win of the season on Saturday.

The Kings edged Lilydale by a point in Division 1 to record their first victory since Round 17, 2019, in low-scoring scrap on their home deck – 5.10 (40) to 6.3 (39).

The nail-biter also marked first-year mentor Luke Tynan’s maiden win in charge.

Tynan took over as Upper Gully coach in September last year after a distinguished state league career with Casey and Port Melbourne. And it’s been a baptism of fire for the former VFL defender, after the emerging Kings had lost their opening 10 matches this season.

But he believes the weekend’s win to be a step in the right direction, as his charges rallied from a goal down at the final change.

The Kings have been on the receiving end of a string of heavy losses this season, particularly at the hands of Mitcham (88 points) and Park Orchards (82 points) in the past month. They’ve also had two losses by under three goals to Mitcham (nine points in Round 3) and Montrose (14 points in Round 6).

The Kings’ youth has been the focus this season. Picture: Field of View Sports Photography

“Saturday was another box ticked – we didn’t play our best footy throughout the whole game, but it was pleasing staying super competitive in the contest, and not giving an inch,” Tynan said.

“It’s good reward for effort for a lot of the guys to finally get over the line.

“We’ve had a lot of close games that we possibly could’ve won … and of recent times we’ve had a couple of average performances and hopefully with a young group that breeds confidence.

“We were defending deep in our defensive 50 for most of the last 10 minutes, so we were just able to hold onto the win.

“There were a couple of close calls and chances that could’ve gone either way, but you take the good fortune.”

It had been an off-season of change for the Kings.

Stephen De Luca exited the senior coaching role during 2020 without having coached a match at the club, while experienced premiership names Tom Meagher and Andrew Godfrey were among those to depart since the end of ‘19.

But with the gulf in experience, Tynan pointed to the long line of youngsters blooded this season as the most pleasing aspect of his first campaign at the helm.

He noted close to 18 players had debuted, while the average age of the forward line has been about 19 on a couple of occasions – among a senior squad featuring just “four or five over 21-22”.

“Normally when you come into the senior fold as a young guy, you’ve got established guys around you and you’re on no pressure, and there’s no reliance on you,” Tynan said.

“Whereas this year, we’re relying on guys that have only played say five senior games, to stand up and have an influence.

“You get the good and the bad with that … earlier in the year our good footy was actually really good.

“If we can get five to six games into a lot of these guys, I think it can hold us in good stead.”

Upper Gully sits in 10th spot on the ladder with a 1-10 record, and takes on eighth-placed Bayswater away this Saturday.