UPWEY-Tecoma's run to the Yarra Valley Mountain District Football League division 1 premiership ended a game early on Sunday.
The Tigers lost to Woori Yallock by six points in the preliminary final, with Woori to face Gembrook-Cockatoo in the grand final at Healesville this Saturday.
Woori took control of the game in the second quarter by kicking six goals to one. The Tigers fought back to snatch the lead in the final term, only for a late Woori goal to seal the win.
Tigers coach Greg Spence said his side was gutted to miss out on the grand final but had achieved a lot over the season.
The Tigers were bottom of the ladder at mid-season due to a big injury list but worked their way into the finals. "It's hugely disappointing," Spence said. "We came from a long way back and really gave it a good shake. We will look back and say it has been reasonably successful year, but the players were pretty devastated after the game."
Spence said he would continue as coach in 2013 and hoped to see more improvement from his young side with four or five of the club's under-18 players playing more than five senior games.
He said he expected the Tigers to retain the majority of their side for 2013.
The Tigers reserves also lost by less than a goal in their preliminary final while the Tigers under-18s have made their grand final and will face Wandin at 9.30 on Saturday morning.
YVMDFL division 1 preliminary final
Woori Yallock 4.2, 11.4, 13.9, 16.10 (106)
Upwey Tecoma 5.5, 6.8, 8.11, 14.16 (100)
GOALS, Woori Yallock: N. Tennant 3, T. Anderson 3, J. Adams 2, M. King 2, F. Elliott 1, J. Williamson 1, T. Williamson 1, J. Williams 1, J. Matthews 1, D. Lewis 1
Upwey Tecoma: D. Waters 6, C. Davis 2, D. Van Hoorn 1, S. Dawson 1, K. Grenda 1, B. Sheppard 1, T. Heinrich 1, S. Mitchell 1
BEST, Woori Yallock: M. Witkowski, H. Smith, J. Coombs, D. Ryan, T. Williamson, T. Anderson
Upwey Tecoma: D. Waters, D. Sheers, C. Davis, S. Gooley, S. Dawson, L. O'Brien