It was Grand Final day on Saturday in mild, calm and overcast conditions. The Yarra Glen ground was in a great state to host the showpiece event.
Seville managed to reach the Grand Final in all eight grades of football and netball. The Blues were looking to return to the top division for the first time since 2001 if their senior footballers could continue their recent form. Standing in their way were the Warburton-Millgrove side who had been minor premiers, although by percentage only, but lowered their colours to Seville by ten goals a fortnight ago. Both teams were astray in front of the sticks and it was the Kookaburras who edged ahead and held on in a final struggle.
It wasn’t to be Seville’s day in the football, losing all three Grand Finals, but they had better results on the adjacent courts where they snagged four flags and missed a clean sweep by a single goal. Seville’s netballers have dominated in recent times and would be a top side in Premier division but are tied to the fortunes of their football team.
Warburton-Millgrove will return to the top division for the first time since 2018. Relegation, currently sitting with Emerald, may be decided by whether or not Upwey-Tecoma are allowed to transfer to the Eastern FNL. Upwey-Tecoma have been accepted into third division EFNL by that competition but the Outer East are challenging that and the matter will be decided by AFL Victoria.
In the Premier Division Preliminary Finals there were a few notable results. In Senior football Olinda-Ferny Creek defeated Woori Yallock again. Olinda’s ex-Collingwood AFL player Matt Scharenberg tore his ACL just two weeks ago and played with a heavily bandaged knee. He was Olinda’s best with five goals and will have a knee reconstruction after the Grand Final.
Outer East Football Netball League Results
Football
Premier Division (Preliminary Finals)
Seniors: Olinda-Ferny Creek 16.14.110 def Woori Yallock 10.11.71
Reserves: Upwey-Tecoma 8.9.57 def Officer 2.3.15
Under 18: Officer 10.14.74 def Olinda-Ferny Creek 1.2.8
Division 1 (Grand Finals)
Seniors: Warburton-Millgrove 6.16.52 def Seville 6.12.48
Reserves: Alexandra 9.6.60 def Seville 7.8.50
Under 18: Pakenham 10.6.66 def Seville 8.9.57
Netball
Premier Division (Preliminary Finals)
A Grade: Wandin 65 def Monbulk 41
B Grade: Monbulk 45 def Mt. Evelyn 36
C Grade: Wandin 32 def ROC 27
D Grade: Mt. Evelyn 29 def ROC 24
Under 17: Mt. Evelyn 32 def ROC White 27
Under 15: Monbulk Gold 33 def Monbulk Maroon 25
Division 1 (Grand Finals)
A Grade: Seville 60 def Warburton-Millgrove 48
B Grade: Seville 46 def Pakenham 44
C Grade: Pakenham 48 def Seville 47
D Grade: Seville 28 def Pakenham 20
Under 17: Seville 30 def Pakenham Gold 16
