YEA – SEASON REVIEW

By Matt Fotia

Yea continued to strengthen its recent stranglehold over Division Two netball in 2019, whilst the footballers made sure it wasn’t a winless season at the final hurdle.

It’s Yea’s 2019 review.

Football :

Position : 8th (1-15)

For : 734 (Ranked #8)

Against : 2142 (#8)

Leading Goal Kicker : Joshua Carroll (20)

Best and Fairest : Riley Aldous

What went well : The strength of the community.

Loss of their top players and the improvement of the rest of competition saw the Tigers slip from finals contenders in 2018 to almost wooden spooners in 2019, as they managed just one win in the seniors and three wins in the reserves.

Faced with low numbers in the reserves at points during the season, the Tigers were left with one option. Put the call went out to the local community and ask them to pull on the yellow and black to help the club out. 

And they did. Whilst they might not have willed them to an unlikely victories, it did mean the club did not have to forfeit a game this season. 

You’ve got to take the good with the bad. 2019 wasn’t a good one in terms of wins and losses for Yea, but the Tigers community stood together by regardless. 

What went wrong : Losing to the Shin Boners the first time around, when in reality they probably should have had the game sewn up prior to that last minute chance. 

In years like 2019 chances come few and far between. It might not mean much in the grand scheme of things, but winning is better than losing.

What they need : To work hard at developing an Under 18 side. For Yea to work their way up the table they’re going to need a strong batch of home grown talent. 

With the prospect of a solely Division Two Under 18 competition in 2020 more than likely, the Tigers should be looking to enter that competition as soon as possible. 

With a viable underage competition that lines up with the senior club, the Tigers, and other clubs in the division now have a big chance at a sustainable and consistent future. 

Grade – C – 

The Tigers might not have expected to slide that far down the ladder, but they did expect to slide. Now that they know the level that’s required, lets see where they get to in 2020.

Netball :

Position : 1st (13-1) & Premiers

For : 840 (#1)

Against : 459 (#2)

Leading Goal Shooter : Melissa Martinov (602)

Best and Fairest : Melissa Martinov

What went well : Pretty much every single weekend except their surprising loss to Yarra Glen. 

The Tigers could take it up to any netball side in the entire competition. 

All the bases are covered , led by Martinov in the attacking circle, the Coppinger’s further back down the court and the rest all at the same level, Yea were destined for back to back flags from the start, especially when they disposed of their nearest rival Seville with aplomb back in Round One. 

It would genuinely be interesting to see the Tigers take on sides like Mount Evelyn, Olinda Ferny Creek, ROC and Cranbourne, just see where they are. 

What went wrong : It has to be their one loss doesn’t it.

Although Yarra Glen weren’t a nobody in 2019 and the Tigers were missing a few, they still would’ve been disappointed on the trip home, as their chances of a perfect season vanished in that last quarter, going down by one goal to the River Pigs.  

To be fair they probably didn’t give it much thought at the end of the year though.

What they need : Like the football department, Yea need to continue to work on developing a strong junior pathway to the senior club. Whilst things are pretty rosy on the netball court right now for the Tigers, it’s important that they don’t forget that nothing is permanent and put the foundations in place to ensure that they remain a netball power for the foreseeable future.

Grade – A + 

Expected to win it.

Did win it.

And rather comfortably too.