EFNL 2025: Outer East, Yarra Ranges stalwart Upwey-Tecoma eyes Eastern league move

A longstanding Yarra Ranges-based club has revealed its bid for a league switch from next season – just days out from the transfer application deadline. Latest here.

Upwey-Tecoma is set to lodge a transfer to Eastern. Picture: Andrew Batsch

A longstanding Yarra Ranges-based club has taken a significant step towards an Eastern league move next season – just days out from the transfer application deadline.

Upwey-Tecoma Football Netball Club – which competes in the Outer East (OEFN) competition – passed a motion on Thursday at a special general meeting to switch leagues from 2026.

An overwhelming majority of members voted in favour, 121 to 17.

Under recently revised AFL Victoria guidelines, clubs looking to move leagues ahead of next season have until June 30 to lodge an application.

“The committee will now commence the transfer process by lodging our intention to transfer with AFL Victoria and OEFN,” Upwey-Tecoma president Craig Waters said in a statement on Friday night.

“Following this, there will be ongoing discussions with OEFN, AFL Victoria and EFNL to work through this process.”

Waters said it was “not a decision that the club has taken lightly”, with the move under review from the club and its key stakeholders since late 2024.

“We are aware that many challenges will ensue as we move forward, particularly around our netball program,” Waters said.

“We are committed to working with the EFNL and others to ensure that we are offering a sustainable and connected netball program as this is a key pillar of the Upwey-Tecoma Football Netball Club.”

Upwey-Tecoma has been a staple of Yarra Valley football for six decades. Picture: Andrew Batsch

A stalwart of football in the region for 60 years, Upwey-Tecoma was a founding club of the now-defunct Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League – later rebranded as AFL Yarra Ranges – which became Outer East in 2018 after merging with South East FL.

Waters said a significant shift in the club’s demographic meant an Eastern league switch was timely.

“Our area is now far more metropolitan than it was 60 years ago,” he said.

“We believe a change in affiliation to the EFNL will allow us to meet challenges around the transition of junior players through age group benefits, reduce pressure on volunteers through reduced costs, including salary cap costs, and better support our women’s football program through deeper grading opportunities.”

Upwey-Tecoma competes in the Outer East’s Premier Division, where it currently sits sixth on the ladder with three wins, six losses and a draw.