20-0…
A Record that will be etched in the history of the Upper Ferntree Gully Football Club following the Kings 40-point win over Templestowe in Sunday’s Division 3 Grand Final.
For just the second time in the clubs history the Kings end the season with a perfect record, emulating the 1974 Upper Ferntree Gully side who claimed the cup in Division 3 following a Grand Final loss in ’73.
In a low-scoring first term the Dockers controlled the play but were unable to fire in front of goal, wasting opportunities with a 3-4 goal breeze to the Southern End of the ground. As expected in the early stages of a Grand Final neither side was giving an inch with both prepared to play tough, contested football.
The Kings were able to find their feet first and took full use of midfield ball, able to strike in the second, putting on four goals to one.
Midfield pressure along with accuracy in front of goal gave Upper Ferntree Gully the lead into the main change. Kings favourite son Tate Hickleton booted two for the term helping his side to a 21 point lead at the main break.
Pocket rocket Jordan Whiteman used his pace and agility to open the game up booting two goals for the afternoon. Coupled well with silky skills of EFL legend Dean Grice who continued to put the Dockers on the back foot.
With the game still not beyond doubt for the Dockers, they came to play in the third however, for all their efforts when the siren rang for three quarter time the deficit had increased. One shining light for Templestowe was big man Simon Harris who booted two goals, however it was up the other end the real damage was done.
Any hopes of a Templestowe resurrection were dashed when Tate Hickleton used skill and brilliance from deep in the pocket to extend to a commanding lead in the early stages of the final term. Upper Ferntree Gully continued to press into the dying minutes of the contest, still tackling with the same ferocity as the opening minutes of the game.
Upper Ferntree Gully 2.0, 6.1, 10.4, 13.8 (86)
Templestowe 1.2, 2.4, 5.7, 6.10 (46)
Upper Ferntree Gully: T. Hickleton 6, J. Whiteman 2, B. Carroll 2, D. Grice 1, R. Murray 1, B. Ward 1
Templestowe: S. Harris 2, K. Talevski 1, A. Soriano 1, J. Malietzis 1, L. Murphy 1
BEST Upper Ferntree Gully: J. Whiteman, T. Hickleton, A. Godfrey, R. Silver, D. Grice , J. Laughlin Templestowe: M. Nagel, J. Dicarla, M. Mariani, A. Prestigiacomo, J. Van Kerckhof, A. Wadsworth
Les Leete/ Blue Ribbon Medalist – Tate Hickleton (Upper Ferntree Gully)
In the early games;
Templestowe took him the Reserves premiership with a 33-point win over Upper Ferntree Gully. With a 6 goal haul, Docker Oliver Lodge was named Blue Ribbon Medalist.
Park Orchards claimed back to back Under 19’s Premierships with a 49-point victory over Upper Ferntree Gully, Connor Hickey named best player on the ground for the second year in a row.