Upper Ferntree Gully is looking to build up its list, get some games into its youth and enact a plan to get it out of Division One’s mid-tier and into the upper echelon of the competition.
In one of the EFNL’s most competitive leagues, Upper Ferntree Gully finished 2019 with eight wins and ten losses, missing out on a finals berth by only percentage.
Like all clubs, 2020 was disappointing for Upper Ferntree Gully in many ways, namely the cancellation of the season. However, as with almost anything, there was a silver lining.
Senior coach Luke Tynan said the opportunity for younger players to mature will serve the club well, particularly because its list has no shortage of exciting youth options.
“With us, a lot of the younger talent has had a couple of years to mature,” Tynan said.
“I think it’s really exciting because the guys that were 19-20-years-old are now 20-21-years-old and entering that development spot in their senior careers where they can really start to make a name for themselves and develop into good senior players.
“We’ve got some exciting younger recruits. Blokes like Tom Lovell, who’s looking really good on the track as a key forward option for us.
“There is also a group of young blokes who have come through together and played a decent chunk of senior footy – Chad Streams, Aiden Quirk and guys like that.
“But we’ve got some exciting younger players – almost under 19s – that are coming through and haven’t got a taste of seniors yet.
“There is definitely two or three of the under 19s that are going to be putting their hands up week in, week out.”
Upper did lose a number of important players throughout 2020, mainly due to retirement, costing the club invaluable experience.
Recruiting will be the key to covering those losses and ensuring the Kings gets a side together with enough senior experience to regularly compete and take the club to the next level.
More experienced players will also be pivotal to helping the younger guys grow into reliable seniors who can contribute to winning.
“We’ve had a few of the older bracket that have decided to hang them up and try different things,” Tynan said.
“We’re probably just keeping a look out for potentially a couple of senior experienced guys that can help our younger brigade who are in that transition period.
“Overall, we’re probably still on the hunt a little bit, especially through the midfield, it would be nice to just add a little bit more experience there.”
Tynan said he views this year as a chance to build-up the sides experience and stabilise after such a tumultuous 12 months.
2021 will be a year where Upper gets some more games into younger players and focuses on some more continuity and consistency each week.
“At the moment we’re trying not to put any big expectations on it (the season),” Tynan said.
“From a growth point of view, it’s just as important as winning and just getting the group to buy-in and enjoy playing together,”
“Then we will try to let the footy do the talking.”
Tynan emphasised the importance of club culture, both on and off the field. Leadership is critical to any club’s success and after not seeing much of one another in 2020, regaining that club atmosphere is priority number one.
“Getting that connection between each other is going to be the main thing. Getting everyone on the same page and resetting I guess, because we’ve missed so much footy.”
Upper Ferntree Gully will begin their season by hosting Park Orchards on the 10th of April
