EFL stats guru and Statsbench author Noel McPhee takes an in-depth look at the history of Upper Ferntree Gully as it celebrates its 1000th EFL match this weekend. This special edition of Statsbench is proudly sponsored by Tobin Brothers Funerals.
RELATED: Tobin Brothers Statsbench Round 12
UPPER FERNTREE GULLY is the latest club to reach the 1000 EFL games milestone.
Upper joined the EFL in 1966 after periods in both the Mountain District FL and the Croydon-FTG FL. All up it has nine senior premierships to its name including five in the EFL in 1974, 1979, 1998, 2010 and 2016 (all in the old Div. 3). The club has played senior men’s finals in 22 of 53 seasons. In 1973, Upper played in three remarkable finals decided by a total of five points, including a drawn grand final and then losing the replay by three points.
The Kings celebrate an undefeated season in 2016 with the Division 3 flag.
The Kings have spent 24 years in the second-tier division.
Traditional rivals for the Kings are Heathmont (53 match-ups), Lilydale (50), Mooroolbark (50) and Warrandyte (50). Their best winning ratios for teams they have played at least 10 times are versus Waverley Blues and Whitehorse Pioneers (both 90% matches won). Of their 53 matches against Heathmont, they have won 43 and drawn 2. Overall, since Upper Gully commenced as a senior club in 1949, it has contested 1306 matches with 738 wins (56.5% winning ratio) and nine draws.
Wright Medal
1971: Peter Jensen
1975: Neville Roberts
Edie Medal
1986: David Leathem
2015: Tim Riseley
BJS Champion Club
1979, 1998, 2016
Division Leading Goal-kickers
1974: John Watson; 75
2005: Grant Noonan; 76
2006: Grant Noonan; 103
2010: Matthew Petracca; 80
Senior Premierships pre-EFL
1958, 1959, 1963, 1964 (all MDFL).
AFL/VFL Players
Mark Lisle (North Melbourne)
Tim Smith (Melbourne)
Josh Begley (Essendon)
Joel Perry (North Melbourne)
Acknowledgements: efnl.org.au; localfootystats.com; UFTG website; SBRD*
*Statsbench Research Department
