THE ROAR may be faint but Upwey-Tecoma has started its climb up the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League division 1 ladder, beating Warburton-Millgrove at Mac Sparke Oval on Saturday.
The Tigers needed three goals in the final 10 minutes to overrun Warby after the home side took a one-point lead 20 minutes into the final term.
After falling behind, the young Tigers side leapt into action with Blair Sheppard kicking a snap goal from a congested pack, then Jesse Dunne (three goals) and Simon Mitchell both converting their marks into goals to secure the victory.
The Tigers still sit in bottom spot but in the tight YVMDFL division 1 ladder are just two points from sixth-placed Emerald and six points from fourth-placed Monbulk.
Tigers president Ian Snell said his young senior side had put into work the extra efforts they had talked about all week in training.
‘‘The boys will take a lot more confidence and knowledge from this win,’’ he said.
‘‘The real difference between that and the Healesville game was just effort and attitude, really. When we have a real dip, we are hard to beat.’’
Snell said the return of a couple of key players helped. David Van Hoorn (two goals) returned from injury and Tom Robinson was about after a bout of tonsilitis.
Half-back Tim Hansen was named best player. Joining him in the best were on-baller Tyson Heinrich, Samuel Gooley, Tim Harris and James Blair. Snell said Hansen made a big impact with his skills and ball use from half-back.
‘‘Tim is very skillful player who still handled the ball well even when it was wet.
The Tigers still face an uphill battle to fight their way into the finals but Snell said there was still hope for the players as long as they replicated their efforts on Saturday.
‘‘Our coaching staff are doing all they can do. It’s now up to the players to keep playing at this level.’’
Mt Evelyn has caused a stir in the YVDMFL ranks by adding former AFL star Damian Cupido from Eastern Football League club Croydon.
Cupido kicked six goals to help the side to a 27-point win over Healesville on Saturday, but Mt Evelyn president Ray Fellows wouldn’t comment about whether the former Essendon and Brisbane Lions forward would remain at the club for the rest of the season. He said he would know more about Cupido’s fate later in the week.