KEN PIESSE chats with man-mountain Damian Monkhorst whose team Woori Yallock faces a cut-throat preliminary final showdown this weekend against Upwey-Tecoma.

The year Damian Monkhorst agreed to coach Woori Yallock the club hadn't won a game and were all but relegated.

Twelve months later they contested a Yarra Valley Mountain District Grand Final, Monkhorst's cool authority, man-management skills and considerable on-field influence a catalyst in the extraordinary turnaround, reminiscent of his old team Collingwood which went from last into a "Grannie" under first-year leader Tommy Hafey in 1976-77.

The 2003 premiership and more Grand Final appearances have followed and Monkhorst, now 41 and likely to be in his last playing season, would love just one last direct fling at some silverware.

Woori Yallock, the Division One, top qualifiers, have to take an extra step into this year's First Division play-off after going down to Gembrook-Cockatoo by nine points in a low-scoring second-semi last weekend.

Monkhorst says Gembrook had simply been better when it counted. Now it's up to his team to come back strongly and earn another shot via this weekend's preliminary final, against Upwey Tecoma. Despite the heavy conditions, any team which kicks only two goals in the first three quarters, as Woori did last weekend, is going to struggle.

Monkhorst says premierships, no matter the level, don't come easily and it's one of the reasons why there is always an enduring bond between premiership teammates.

The former Collingwood premiership ruckman - he was 21 when the Magpies triumphed in the inaugural AFL Grand Final of 1990 - still plays most YVMD matches, providing direction and leadership to his young team.

"I like them to back themselves," he says of Woori's match style. "I try and fill them up with a fair bit of confidence. Almost everyone are locals. We haven't recruited outside the local area.

Other clubs, like Silvan, have paid out a lot of money and they're pretty much stuffed now. At Woori we're all about digging in and making a contribution to each other. The boys have another chance this weekend and we'll be giving it a real crack."

Dermott Brereton was part of Woori's team which lost the 2007 Grand Final. Others in Monkhorst's considerable AFL acquaintance also keenly support the team.

Monkhorst is one of the big names of the competition alongside other ex-AFL types including Andy Goodwin, who coaches Wandin and Gordon Sumner, Warburton-Millgrove.

He still tries to play the majority of games and says the sheer enjoyment of being a mentor and still having an influence around the centre bounces has kept him active and involved.

"I tried to retire last year but they talked me into playing again," he said. "I pick and choose when I go on or not. It's good fun being out there and teaching the young guys. Most of them are pretty respectful of what you're trying to do and will have a crack."

Few are silly enough to ever threaten him, one Monbulk supporter breaking rank immediately after one final siren and having mud wiped all over his head by a grinning "Monkey".

"I ducked around the back of the main group and he was still carrying on about us so I smeared mud all over him," he said.

There is a lot of fun and banter in the League and that's how it should be too,' said Monkhorst.

"You go as hard as you can when you're out there and then have a few beers afterwards."

Monkhorst is a true local having first played, aged eight, with Woori's Under 11 team.

He started in the Under 19s at Collingwood from the age of 15 and played his first senior game as a 17-year-old going onto play 205 games in 12 years before having a farewell season at St Kilda in 2000.

He loved the recent Magpie Grand Final reunion, especially as it involved so many supporters.

"You don't always get to see them as much as the players, trainers and fitness staff," he said, " so it was great."

He says the feeling of togetherness so evident still at Collingwood is mirrored at Woori, "albeit on a far smaller scale," he said.

He said success has been far from automatic at Woori and the team had to bring its "A" game with it at the weekend to win through.

"That's our only focus right now," he says.

"We can only control what we can do. Hopefully our best will be good enough."

*** KEN PIESSE is writing a new book Bush Football Legends for 2011. Do you have any suggestions or favorite stories? Feel free to email Ken on This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Next week, too, we will announce the winner of the $500 worth of books from Ken's football and cricket website: cricketbooks.com.au.... The topic is who is your town's football hero and why? Final entries for the competition close Friday.

By Ken Piesse

Article first appeared vcfl.com.au September 7, 2010