Leader News |
FAST-FINISHING Upwey Tecoma slammed on 12 final-quarter goals to thrash Emerald in their YVMDFL Division 1 clash on Saturday. The Tigers outscored the Bombers by 10 goals in the last stanza to win by 140 points, 31.13 (199) to 9.5 (59) at the Upwey Recreation Reserve.
It was the Tigers' second win from two starts this season and sets up a fascinating Anzac Day clash with Monbulk.
Coach Greg Spence said his Tigers had focussed on a strong start to the season.
"We were on the bottom of the ladder for five of the first eight rounds last year and we've been keen to make sure that doesn't happen again," he said.
"We set ourselves the first four-week block of the season and haven't looked beyond that yet. We're sticking to structures and getting confidence in what we're doing."
Height is a precious commodity in football and Upwey Tecoma has it in spades this season.
Tall timber Tom Hedge went forward on Saturday and booted nine goals.
"We're pretty lucky at the moment, we've got three blokes around the 200cm mark and that will stretch any team," Spence said.
"Tom was the beneficiary on the weekend and our full forward kicked four and our ruckman kicked a couple too."
The Tigers were back at their den on Sunday morning for a recovery session and to start their preparations for the round 3 blockbuster.
Monbulk will be coming off a one-point loss to newly-promoted Belgrave this week, but will welcome former Melbourne livewire Russell Robertson into its line-up for the clash.
Spence said he had given the tough task of nullifying the former AFL star to two of his Tigers.
"We've got two guys we'll send to him but we won't put a huge amount of focus on Robertson because if you do that you run the risk of underestimating other players," he said.
"There's other dangerous players in that Monbulk team we need to worry about."
The Tigers will march with the local RSL in Upwey on Thursday morning before turning their attention to the 3pm match.
In other games on Saturday, Belgrave's first win in Division 1 was set up by Cameron Haynes' four goals.
The Magpies beat Monbulk 12.15 (87) to 12.14 (86). Gembrook Cockatoo enjoyed an 18.18 (126) to 14.10 (94) victory over Mount Evelyn, Woori Yallock beat Olinda Ferny Creek, 14.9 (93) to 12.8 (80), and Wandin got over Warburton Millgrove, 15.16 (106) to 14.13 (97).
