FERNTREE GULLY – DIVISION 4 PREMIERS Home & Away: 18 Wins 1698/827 205.32 Finals: 2 Wins, 1 Loss
Coach: Peter Farrell Best and Fairest: Kieran Gray When Peter Farrell headed to Wally Tew Reserve he was tasked with the role of bringing the club its first piece of Senior silverware in almost three decades.
Morrison, Petracca, Goodman and Gray were just some of the names the club added to its playing stocks in the quest for success.
Ferntree Gully flexed their muscle early in their season. In Round 3, on ANZAC Day Ferntree Gully overcame a slow start at home against Forest Hill to show their true form in the second half to run our winners by 39 points.
From that point on, The Eagles weren’t truly tested until Round 9 when them came up against Whitehorse Pioneers, only getting over the top by 12 points, this started a run of tight games for Ferntree Gully, all of which they claimed wins in.
As the back half of the season started to roll into finals, the highly touted Ferntree Gully made their way to Forest Hill Reserve in Round 15, a game that was said by many to be a do or die clash in terms of confidence for the then 2nd placed Zebras. Forest Hill were unable to make their mark, the Eagles claimed a 44-point win and “bragging rights” heading into the 2016 finals.
Unable to control the contest and shown up by a better side on the day…
The only time for the season Ferntree Gully would have to admit defeat for the season, Second semi-final day. Forest Hill brought a hard, physical brand of football to match the Eagles and were able to outplay them to win by 16-points, claiming the first win against the Eagles since Round 11, 2015.
Ferntree Gully were able to overcame finals hoodoo’s of the past and comfortably overrun Donvale in the Preliminary Final to enter their first Grand Final since their win in 1987!
Hard, Physical with no side willing to take a backwards step. The Division 4 Grand Final had all the hallmarks of footy of yesteryear. Neither side gained any sort of ascendency during the match. Only when Ferntree Gully forward Matt Petracca was found on the lead did Ferntree Gully find a comfortable lead late in the third term.
Forest Hill outscored the Eagles in the final time, but by that stage fate was flying high as Ferntree Gully held on in the dying stages to claim an historic win.
The season was capped off with Billy Morrison and Jye Goodman claiming the quinella in the James Medal for season 2016, Morrison securing the medal by two votes.