A slow start to the year cost the Ferntree Gully Eagles a spot in the Division Three Senior Men’s Finals series while the Senior Women’s saved their best until last.
By Ryan Long.
Ferntree Gully
Ladder Position: 5th (7-8-1, 117.76%)
Best and Fairest: Daniel De Ieso
Leading Goalkicker: Jack Flannery (34)
Summary:
It’s a year of What If’s for the Eagles who surprisingly started the year off 0 and 7 before making a late charge at a fairy-tale finals appearance, winning seven of their last eight matches. The Eagles weren’t necessarily playing poor footy in the first seven weeks either, five of their first seven losses were by one goal or less. Once the side finally kicked into gear, they appeared to be a serious premiership contender if they could sneak into fourth place.
Unfortunately, their start to the year was their enviable downfall, finishing two games behind Coldstream, and missing out on finals footy in 2022.
The Eagles did make a couple of key signings in the off-season at the start of the year to make up for their losses. Jack Flannery was very important, moving from Narre Warren. The key forward ked the goal kicking with 34 majors, improving as the year went on. Luke McComb was the highlight recruit, returning home after a six-year stint with Vermont. He was only able to manage eight games for the year due to injury, but he’ll be someone the club will be very excited to see back out there in 2023.
Key Players:
Daniel De Ieso capped off a terrific season with the honours of the Division Three league Best and Fairest. The experienced veteran has played 164 games of senior footy over the years and spent time in both the ruck and forward line when needed. Young star Kieran Gray had another great season, kicking 33 goals with the ability to play either midfield or forward. It’s no surprise to see that seven of the eight times he finished in the best in the back end of the season when the Gully were constantly winning.
The two made the Division Three Team of the Year along with teammate Jye Dulieu starting on the Wing, finishing in the best six times across the season.
Best Win: Round 16 – Ferntree Gully 10.13 73 def. Donvale 4.9 33 @Donvale Reserve
This was Ferntree Gully at their best, limiting the influence of the likes of Ethan Duncan and Nick Murphy, keeping the Magpies to just four goals for the afternoon, their lowest score of the year. It was a big turnaround from the last time these two sides where Donvale won by 14 points at Walley Tew Reserve.
An incredible defensive display saw the Eagles lead at the final change by 60 points, keeping Donvale to 1.4 10. At the other end of the ground, the scoring for the Eagles was well spread out with Russo and Gervasoni the only multiple goal kickers. While the win wasn’t enough to help Ferntree Gully to qualify for September footy, it was a sign of what Eagles fans have to look forward to in coming years.
Off-Season:
Finals are non-negotiable for the Eagles in 2023. If it wasn’t for that horror run of close losses at the start of the year, the side would have been a chance to give the Waverley Blues a run for their money.
They’ve made a couple of off-season moves already, bringing in two former Eagles players, Norwood’s Lachie Kennedy and Boronia’s Brayden Wright.
The premiership window is well and truly open in 2023.
Ferntree Gully Women’s
Ladder Position: 5th (1-13, 37.83%)
Best and Fairest: Georgie Pruden
Leading Goalkicker: Abbey Broughan (13)
Summary:
After a highly successful year in 2021, the Ferntree Gully Senior Women’s side couldn’t quite reach the same heights in 2022. Playing off in the highly competitive Premier B Division, the Eagles faced off against both Premier and Premier B clubs. Unfortunately, they couldn’t get their best side out on the field weekly due to injuries, illness and other circumstances.
After some mid-season blowouts, the club’s form improved with many close losses that the club were almost able to pinch. That included when the side played the two grand finalists, an 8-point loss to Whitehorse and a 5-point loss to Donvale. Some reward for their effort came in the final home and away round of the season when the Eagles defeated the Bears by six points.
Key Players:
Winning the club’s best and fairest in 2022 was Georgie Pruden who had a very consistent season, finishing in the best a total of 11 times from 13 games. Still very young, Pruden was dominant at this level with an incredible work rate around the ground.
Runner Up in the best and fairest, Amy McCormack had another strong year, playing an important role in the ruck each week.
Abbey Broughan was the Eagles’ main goalkicker, finishing with 13 majors to her name while the likes of Ash Hilder, Eleisha Perrett and Evelyn Bamford all had positive seasons.
Best Win: Round 14 – Ferntree Gully 5.4 34 def. The Basin 3.10 28 @Batterham Reserve
The Gully saved their best till last, winning their first game for the season in the last Home and Away game of the season. They were made to earn it, facing off against The Basin who had already secured a spot in the finals. They trailed for the majority of the day with the Bears leading at every change. Two last-quarter goals saw the Eagles win a 6-point classic.
Emily Bamford and Lisa Walshe kicked two goals each in the win while girls like Nuku, Hilder, McCormack and Pruden all continued their impressive form from the season. It was an 80-point turnaround from the last time these two teams met. A great reward for effort that gives the club something to look forward to going into the following season.
Off-Season Focus:
Like the other clubs in Premier B, the Eagles will certainly benefit in the long run by having the chance to test themselves out against the top sides in Premier such as the Eastern Devils and South Croydon. With enough talent in their list, the club will be hoping to retain their list and stay injury free in 2023.
Netball Review
Ferntree Gully Eagles Blue (Section One)
Ladder Position: 8th (0-17, 67.40%)
Ferntree Gully’s first netball side faced off in the highest section of the Bendigo Bank EFNL competition this year. In a challenging season, the Eagles couldn’t finish off the year with a win despite being close on several occasions. The Eagles were dealt a bad hand with some unfortunate injuries throughout the season that left them behind the eight-ball. The club had 17 players who played at least one game for the Eagles Blue team.
Mikayla Mcnamara was a clear standout for the Eagles winning the Best and Fairest while also leading the scoring with 228 points, just ahead of Tahra Wright with 178 points.
Ferntree Gully Eagles Yellow (Section 4)
Ladder Position: 10th (3-14, 62.21%)
The second Eagles team won three games during 2022, coming against Boronia, Silvan and Heathmont. The club improved as the year went on, winning all three of those games in the second half of the season. A major highlight of the season was their five-point loss to the eventual premiers, Nunawading. It was a tight contest the entire night with the Eagles just one point behind the Lions at the Three-Quarter Time break. Unfortunately, they came up short but it’s certainly an indicator that the Eagles were a much better side than their final ladder position suggests.
Sarinthip Incha won the side’s Best and Fairest award while Jasmine Termorshuizen led the scoring with 143 goals.
Ferntree Gully Eagles White (Section 8)
Ladder Position: 7th (2-11, 61.60%)
Just the two wins for the season for the Eagles’ third netball side, defeating both East Burwood and Waverley Blues. Candice Greenway came away with the Best and Fairest honours ahead of teammate Jemma Campbell, placing Runner Up. Brittney Gray led the scoring for the season with 100 goals from 9 games.
Ferntree Gully Juniors
The Ferntree Gully Eagles Juniors had another great year in 2022 with the club adding two more teams from last year, now with 12. The Junior club had both Under 16 girls’ teams play finals which was a great accomplishment.
The club has one of the best Auskick programs which will serve the Junior club well moving into the 2023 season.
