By Ryan Long
Overview:
The 2021 season didn’t go to plan for Upper Ferntree Gully, who won just one game after losing the first ten in a row. With the cancellation of the 2020 season, the Kings lost quite a few important key players from the side due to retirement, forcing the club to enter a re-build quicker than anticipated.
It did make it tough to find consistency across four quarters but there’s still have plenty of time for these players to develop their craft. The more exposure to senior football they get, the better set up the club will be going forward.
Tom Lovell was a shining light for the club, recruited as a key forward, the 19-year-old finished with 21 goals, 13 more than anyone else. Unfortunately, he has put pen to paper at divisional rival Mitcham for 2022 and beyond.
Best Win: Round 13: UFTG 5.10 40 def. Lilydale 6.3 39 @Kings Park
After losing ten straight in a row, Upper Gully finally got themselves on the board in what would be their final game of the season. In a thrilling finish, the side banked the four points by defeating Lilydale by just one point.
It was a low scoring first half with just two goals kicked between the two sides, the Kings didn’t make the most of their opportunities, finishing at 1.7 at half time. The scoring opened up a little more in the third quarter with Lilydale’s four-goal quarter giving them a six-point lead at the final change.
In the final quarter, the Kings took back the lead and managed to hold on for a one-point victory.
The last round win will give the club a bit of extra motivation heading into the 2022 season.
Worst Loss: Round 12: Mitcham 14.19 103 def. UFTG 2.3 15 @Walker Park
An 88-point thumping at the hands of the Tigers was arguably the Kings worse performance of the year. If it wasn’t for the Tigers inaccuracy, this certainly could have been an even bigger loss.
Mitcham led by only 27 points at half time due to their inefficiency. It was the third quarter that most of the damage was done, with the Tigers kikcing eight goals to none
Jake Parente was fantastic for Mitcham up forward, booting six goals while Jessie Smyth had three of his own. Uren and Barton Smith both dominated in the middle for the Tigers while Upper Gully couldn’t win the clearance battle and provide any opportunities for their forwards.
After being highly competitive against the Tigers earlier in the year, this was a bitterly disappointing outcome for the Kings.
Standout Player: Tom Lovell
Tom Lovell impressed many up forward in 2021, kicking a goal in every game of the season. As the Kings main target, Lovell finished with 21 goals including a season-best haul of five in the loss against Bayswater.
Lovell featured in the league best and fairest more than any other Upper Gully player, finishing with five votes for the season. Kings supporters will unfortunately be watching him with envy in 2022, after his aforementioned move to Mitcham.
Off-Season focus:
Scoring is certainly a big issue for Upper Ferntree Gully that will need to be addressed. Except for an 11-goal performance in the round five loss to Bayswater, the Kings never kicked more than eight goals in a match.
The club’s depth in the midfield is another thing to look at over the off-season. At times this year, the Kings have struggled to match the talent and polish of more experienced midfield line-ups such as a Croydon or an East Ringwood. Recruiting an experienced inside midfielder is something the younger players coming into the side would benefit highly from.
This season had a clear focus on the growth and development of the younger senior players who are currently in a transition phase. This will surely be continued into the 2022 season without too many high expectations but the Kings will be looking to certainly show their progress through better final results across the year.