EFNL Division 2 2023: Upper Ferntree Gully ends long losing streak
Upper Gully dug deep to toast its first senior win in almost two years on Saturday – but the club broke an even longer drought in the process.
Eastern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Eastern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
“Exhilaration.”
That’s how Upper Ferntree Gully senior coach Mark Fisher describes the feeling at the final siren on Saturday.
The Kings broke through for their first senior victory since July 2021 – edging Knox by four points in the league’s Division 2 – after a winless ’22 campaign consigned the club to relegation at the end of last season.
Players, officials and rusted-on supporters alike rejoiced following the 11.12 (78) to 10.14 (74) boilover, as a cocktail of emotions spilt into the rooms in celebration.
It had also been 1344 days since the seniors and reserves had both won on the same day.
“It’s a great club – I’ve only been there a short time but I’ve known people at the club for probably 35 years and like all local clubs, they stay, they stick fat,” Fisher said.
“Just to see some of those faces in the rooms afterwards singing the song, obviously there’s a whole lot of relief.
“I think that relief then gets pushed back to excitement, exhilaration, jubilation … it was a great day.”
Knox hit the front with seven minutes to play after overturning a 24-point half-time deficit – drawing within two goals at the final change.
Enter Travis Strange with the matchwinner, kicking truly for his third major as Upper snatched the lead with four minutes remaining.
“Realistically in the last quarter, we didn’t have a bench … I had blokes cramping all over the joint, so to hang on was absolutely enormous,” Fisher said.
“I’m not taking anything away from Knox, because they came at us really hard and strong in the third quarter.
“We spoke before the game about just giving ourselves an opportunity in the last quarter to win a game of footy – I don’t care how you get there.”
Fisher took on the Kings’ coaching job at the end of last season, following a four-year stint with Outer East club Mt Evelyn.
He spent close to a decade as an assistant at the Eastern Ranges from 2009 to ’18 in addition to roles as head coach of Vic Metro’s under-16 side and midfield coach at Essendon’s VFL outfit.
A culture shift at the Kings has been front of mind – and Fisher said the weekend’s result proved a step in the right direction.
“What it does is it shows them that what we’re trying to do, works,” he said.
“It’s not about winning as such, it’s about change and that’s what I’ve spoken to the club about.
“I said if it’s going to be graded on wins and losses, I’m not going to take the job – what we want to grade it on is if you (the club) see change … and already we’ve seen change.
“There’s a change off-field in the culture, a lot more effort in getting to training, working harder and I like to think I drive pretty high standards in that area.”
Fisher highlighted late inclusion Buster Todd as “enormous” with two telling goals, while Jacob Richardson dug deep in the ruck.
But perhaps the biggest praise was reserved for young gun Harvey Meyer, one of four under-19 talents in the side on Saturday.
“He put himself under the ball a couple of times, and got hammered in the last four minutes and just kept getting up,” Fisher said.
“I said to him after the game, ‘Unfortunately now, you’ve set yourself a benchmark which is pretty bloody high’.
“But you don’t get a win like that without everyone playing really well … it was a dirty day but sometimes you win ugly and at the minute it’s the best win we’ve had in a long time.”
Knox 1.2 3.7 8.8 10.14 (74)
Upper Ferntree Gully 5.4 7.7 9.12 11.12 (78)
Knox
Goal kickers:
A. Taylor 3, A. Black 2, B. Holst, W. O’Brien, J. Love, J. Neil, H. Greaves
Best players:
H. Greaves, J. Martin, L. Stuckey, A. Taylor, J. Love, B. Holst
Upper Ferntree Gully
Goal kickers:
T. Strange 3, B. Todd, C. Thomson, R. Bailey 2, J. Mason, A. Ewart
Best players:
B. Todd, A. Godfrey, H. Meyer, T. Strange, J. Richardson, H. Boyce