By Marcus Uhe
The rested and refreshed pair of Narre Warren and Woori Yallock will resume hostilities once again at Healesville this week with progression directly through to the Outer East Football Netball (OEFN) Premier Division grand final at stake.
Two of the best-performing clubs since the formation of OEFN, both finished the 2024 home-and-away season in the top two, earning themselves a double chance and the opportunity to secure a streamlined passage to the biggest day of the season with a second semi final win.
The two only met once in 2024, an epic seesawing battle that finished with emotions running high at Kalora Park back in round 10.
Both sides entered the contest undefeated through the opening nine weeks of the season and fought out a battle befitting of the two best teams out of the 2024 starting blocks that went down to the wire.
Narre Warren recovered from a 13-point deficit as the final change of ends to record a stirring five-point victory, after conceding six goals in a frightening third term that showed how strong Woori Yallock is, and the genuine threat it poses.
Key to the performance, however, was young Magpie prodigy Sam Toner.
On a day where no other player kicked more than two goals and the Magpies only managed 10 for the day in an uncharacteristically low-scoring performance, Toner kicked seven, including the final three of the afternoon, to seal a remarkable win and affirm his status as one of the competition’s brightest shining lights.
The finish to the afternoon was marred by controversy, however, with Magpies defender Travis Callahan suffering a ferocious hit from Tigers’ counterpart Robert Allan.
Allan charged off of his direct opponent in Toner in the Magpies’ goal square to attempt to prevent Callahan from handballing over his head, and collected Callahan with a brutal high bump that left the courageous defender unconscious.
Allan received a five-week suspension from the tribunal, only adding to the rivalry quickly emerging between the two clubs which includes a grand final showdown in 2022.
But while Allan has served his time and Callahan has recovered from his hit, Toner will leave a huge hole in the Magpies’ forward line, having fractured his wrist last month while playing in the Coates Talent League for the Dandenong Stingrays.
Riley Siwes kicked two and Will Howe one that afternoon, meaning plenty of teammates will need to step forward to help fill the ravine Toner creates.
Since Toner’s elevation to the Stingrays, the likes of Hamish West, Jesse Davies, Tom Toner and Daniel Toner have all stepped forward with bags of goals, and will need to contribute again if the Magpies are to make a third-consecutive grand final appearance.
Howe, meanwhile, suffered a concussion against Monbulk in round 16, and under the concussion protocols did not play in the final two games of the home-and-away season, but will be available for the semi final.
Woori Yallock enters the contest with strong form, having won seven of its final eight games to secure second place, with its only loss in that stretch coming to Wandin in diabolical conditions on its home ground, the playing surface completely marred by inclement weather in the middle of winter.
It enters the finals on a four-game winning streak, and since a mid-season scoring lull, the Tigers are back to their best inside forward 50, averaging 111 points per game in the final four weeks.
Across a myriad of statistics, the two sides are incredibly evenly matched – from score sources (both rely heavily on scoring off turnovers), inside 50 efficiency, clearance and possession numbers and nearly everything else tracked by Premier Data.
With the winner sealing direct progression to the grand final in a fortnight’s time, expect both sides to lay everything on the line once again at Healesville on Saturday.
It’s a genuine toss of a coin, this one, and while it’s incredibly hard top tip against Woori Yallock, its somehow even harder to tip against Narre Warren.
Let’s say the Magpies, but by even less than the margin in round 10 – four points or fewer.
At Yarra Glen, Olinda Ferny Creek will be endeavouring to force another upset when it tackles reigning premier Wandin in the first semi final.
The two sides clashed in round 18 with Wandin prevailing by 52 points, having been made to work by the Bloods in a hard-fought contest at Olinda.
While Wandin has prevailed in both meetings this year, Olinda Ferny Creek kicked 10 goals in each of the contests, joining Narre Warren and Mt Evelyn as the only two sides to do so in 2024.
And with captain Lachlan Taylor returning to form in the first final after injury curtailed the back end of his home-and-away season, the Bloods will enter the contest with a nothing to lose mentality, taking a free swing at the reigning premier playing with plenty to prove.
The Bloods will need to find a match-up for Aaron Mullett, who kicked bags of four and six in the two meetings this year and looked back to his best in the first final, having spent time on the ball towards the end of the season to showcase his versatility.
On the other side, of equal importance will be the ability to curtail Matthew Scharenberg, whose intercept marking ability is set to thwart the Bulldogs’ potent forward line.
If Wandin chooses to match height-for-height with the potential Shane Smith medal winner, it may be rangy Patrick Hodgett that gets the assignment, but if they wish to expose him for speed at ground level, expect a Tom Merlino or Brodie Atkins to play a sacrificial role.
Unlike Narre Warren and Woori Yallock, the sudden-death pressure of the contest means everything will be on the line at Yarra Glen, with the winner keeping premiership hopes alive.
52-point turnaround from round 18 is asking a lot of the Bloods, so expect Wandin to keep its season afloat.
TIPS: NARRE WARREN v Woori Yallock, WANDIN v Olinda Ferny Creek.
