By Nick Creely
The AFL Outer East has announced its senior football teams of the year, with a mixture of local emerging stars and existing champions receiving the nod after outstanding individual seasons.
Here are the full teams from the Premier Division, Division 1, Division 1 Women’s and Division 2 Women’s senior football seasons:
PREMIER DIVISION TEAM OF THE YEAR
B: Tom Hinds (Wandin), Brandon Osborne (Cranbourne), Michael Batten (Woori Yallock)
HB: Matt Scharenberg (Olinda Ferny Creek), Stuart Hill (Upwey Tecoma), Jamie Plumridge (Beaconsfield
C: Connor Smith (Wandin), Brandon White (Beaconsfield), Jafar Ocaa (Beaconsfield)
HF: Trent Cody (Narre Warren), Zach Monkhorst (Woori Yallock), Jake Bowd (Beaconsfield)
F: Corey Ellison (Cranbourne), Marc Holt (Cranbourne), Thomas Toner (Narre Warren)
R: Ryley Monkhorst (Woori Yallock), Nick Battle (Beaconsfield), Zac Stewart (Pakenham)
INT: Josh Tonna (Narre Warren), Nick Russo (Cranbourne), Tom Miller (Narre Warren), Michael Boland (Cranbourne)
COACH: Mick Fogarty (Beaconsfield)
ASSIST COACH: Brian Cole (Woori Yallock)
CAPTAIN: Trent Cody (Narre Warren)
Narre Warren star Trent Cody has received the gong as skipper of this star-studded side with Mick Fogarty as coach and Brian ‘Jack’ Cole as assistant coach, with Cranbourne and Beaconsfield leading the way with five selections each after enjoying dominant home-and-away campaigns.
Fogarty’s Eagles were well represented, with the electric Jamie Plumridge rewarded with selection on half-back after a strong season, while in the midfield, dynamos Brandon White and Nick Battle took out the centre and ruck-rover positions after equally dominant seasons in their first season at the club which saw them rank highly in disposals but more importantly driving forces in the Eagles’ rise to minor premiers. Speedster Jafar Ocaa, who is beginning to really make a name for himself, was named on the wing after doing some incredible things on-field this season which included 18 goals, while Jake Bowd’s move down forward paid dividends with 20 goals and selection on a forward flank.
Cranbourne – coached by recently re-signed Steve O’Brien – also enjoyed plenty of representation with five players selected. As he has done so brilliantly throughout a sublime career, skipper Brandon Osborne was once again the standout defender in the competition, proving a tough obstacle for forwards. Marc Holt’s return to the club went to script in many ways with 30 goals, leading the competition in front of the big sticks, while VFL-listed youngster Corey Ellison made a big impact in his four games, with 10 goals. Star ruckman Michael Boland was named on the bench after contributing strongly with three games late in the season, while Nick Russo provided plenty of energy and was also named on the bench.
235194 Picture: ROB CAREW
Third-placed Narre Warren were rewarded with four selections, which included Cody who was brilliant through the midfield and half-forward with 18 goals to be named skipper. The ever-improving Tom Toner was also selected in the forward line after 12 goals from seven matches and was a constant presence for the Magpies, while Tommy Miller’s best season was rewarded with selection on the bench and Josh Tonna was a model of consistency to also earn a spot on the bench.
Ex-Magpie Matthew Scharenberg certainly drew plenty of attention in his first season at Olinda Ferny Creek, and the defender was named on the back flank after a classy campaign. Composed, utilising his trusty kicking skills, the defender provided plenty of drive and found space often where there wasn’t any.
Pakenham star Zac Stewart’s eye-catching season was rewarded with selection as the rover in the team, with the Lions midfielder hitting the scoreboard and providing grunt and class in the coalface for Ash Green’s team. Stewart’s back-end of the home-and-away season was particularly outstanding.
Upwey Tecoma playing coach Stuart Hill came into the Outer East league with expectation, and delivered for the improving Tigers. The champion defender was at his consistent best in what was an outstanding debut season for the club to be named at centre half back in the team.
In a tough season for Wandin, defender Tom Hinds was an absolute standout down back for the Doggies and was justly rewarded with selection in the back pocket. While it often wasn’t the easiest place to play in 2021, Hinds stood tall in a brilliant season. The exciting Connor Smith also enjoyed a superb season to clinch a spot on the wing, kicking a goal and showcasing some excellent skills on the outside.
It’s little surprise to see two of the Monkhorst boys – Zach and Ryley – named in the team of the year after excellent seasons for Woori Yallock. Ryley was the standout ruckman in the competition, a colossal figure and driving factor in the dangerous Tigers, while Zach did a bit of everything to kick 22 goals and provide immense structure and leadership around the ground. Michael Batten was named in the back pocket after holding the Tigers’ defensive unit together with class.
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DIVISION ONE TEAM OF THE YEAR
B: Nick Jansen (Emerald), Jack Noland (Seville), Brayden Weller (Gembrook Cockatoo)
HB: James Cecere (Seville), Joel Wensley (Monbulk), Michael Anson (Healesville)
C: Daimon Kift (Mt Evelyn), Justin Myers (Seville), Tom Taylor (Monbulk)
HF: Jesse Longmuir (Officer), Leigh Williams (Seville), Nathan O’Keefe (Seville)
F: Michael Gibbons (Mt Evelyn), Taylor Joyce (Monbulk), Pat Chin (Emerald)
R: Dylan Chapman (Officer), Anthony Bernardo (Officer), Josh Tilly (Gembrook Cockatoo)
INT: Cal Urquhart (Mt Evelyn), Jake Ingaliso (Officer), Michael Firrito (Gembrook Cockatoo), Deng Nai (Seville)
COACH: Andrew Williams (Monbulk)
ASSIST COACH: Doug Koop (Officer)
CAPTAIN: Nathan O’Keefe (Seville)
Seville goal machine Nathan O’Keefe has been named captain in the Division 1 team of the season, with his club receiving a whopping six selections, with Monbulk’s Andrew Williams named coach and Officer’s Doug Koop named assistant coach.
Emerald enjoyed two players in the team of the season, with Patrick Chin’s outstanding campaign up forward rewarded with selection in the pocket. Chin kicked 26 goals from eight games to be one of the forwards of the season. Nick Jansen was simply class all season for the Bombers and started the season with a serious bang to be a very worthy selection in the back pocket.
Third-placed Gembrook Cockatoo also saw three players rewarded, with Josh Tilly’s standout season through the midfield rewarded with selection as rover. Tilly kicked six goals from nine matches and was a driving force for the Brookers. Defender Brayden Weller played a key role all season down back for the Brookers and was named in the pocket, while ex-Kangaroo champ Michael Firrito’s 21 goals saw him clinch a bench spot.
While Healesville had a tough season on-field, Michael Anson’s five games were worthy of selection at half-back after a consistent season.
It was a dominant season for minor premiers Monbulk, and the Hawks were justly rewarded with three players in the side. Almost an automatic selection after a sublime season down back, Joel Wensley was named as centre half back after completely blanketing opposition forwards in 2021. Tom Taylor did very little wrong in his six games to be named on the wing, hitting the scoreboard and providing plenty of run and carry. Star forward Taylor Joyce’s first season was dominant, to lead the competition with 33 goals, and was duly named at full forward after averaging over four goals per match.
Second-placed Mt Evelyn also had plenty of reason to smile in 2021, with three selections in the team. There was arguably no more dominant player in the league this season than Daimon Kift, who was named on the wing. Kift kicked almost a goal a game and was named in the best almost every week to be a dominant presence through the midfield and wing for the Rovers. After 30 goals, Michael Gibbons clinched a forward pocket spot to finish equal third in the goal kicking award, while Cal Urquhart contributed 22 goals as part of that dangerous Rovers forward line to clinch a bench spot.
Doug Koop’s Officer were well represented with four spots in the team of the season with the Kangaroos producing many eye-catching performances. Returning to the club this season, ruckman Dylan Chapman was the dominant big man in the competition, while recruit Anthony Bernardo had the ball on a string and proved hard to stop through the midfield to be named as the deserved ruck-rover. Jesse Longmuir was hard to stop up forward all season to boot 30 goals from nine matches and selection as the half-forward flank, while after a flashy season off half back, Jake Ingaliso was named on the bench.
Seville was the most fruitful of the clubs with six Blues named in the side, an incredible feat after coming up to Division 1 this season. The Blues were well represented in the backline, with Jack Noland named as full-back, while the dashing James Cecere was named on a flank after an excellent season providing plenty of drive. Midfield jet Justin Myers was named in the centre after racking up plenty of the footy this season. The Blues also saw their forward stars, Nathan O’Keefe and Leigh Williams named at centre half forward and the forward flank after combining for 58 goals to form the most dangerous two-pronged attack in the league. Big man Deng Nai was eye-catching and clinched the final bench spot.
DIVISION ONE WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR
B: Keely Dahlberg (Beaconsfield), Caitlyn Harris (Monbulk), Rachel Betteridge (Pakenham)
HB: Roslyn Cook (Pakenham), Charlotte Jagusch (Beaconsfield), Lucy Ventham (Pakenham)
C: Emerson Woods (Healesville), Lauren Hojnacki (Beaconsfield), Chloe Nagel (Pakenham)
HF: Jessica Occhipinti (Upwey Tecoma), Sophia Zappia (Mt Evelyn), Kiara Simmons (Mt Evelyn)
F: Katie Angelis (Beaconsfield), Isobel Urquhart (Mt Evelyn), Alexandra Bantock (Upwey Tecoma)
R: Georgia Ploegsma (Mt Evelyn), Alexandra Bryan (Healesville), Kiana Oates (Upwey Tecoma)
INT: Mackenzie Adams (Mt Evelyn), Jessica Walton (Upwey Tecoma), Belinda McGee (Pakenham), Ruby O’Dwyer (Healesville), Bianca Moody (Pakenham)
COACH: Steve Varley (Mt Evelyn)
ASSIST COACH: Mitch Hay (Healesville)
CAPTAIN: Kiana Oates (Upwey Tecoma)
DIVISION TWO WOMEN’S TEAM OF THE YEAR
B: Jessica Dight (Seville/Woori Yallock), Casey Seymour (Olinda Ferny Creek), Kelly-Anne Fitzpatrick (Thornton Eildon)
HB: Stella Thornton (Olinda Ferny Creek), Georgia Page (Yarra Junction), Ann Ito (Yarra Junction)
C: Maegan Davey (Officer), Natalie Holmes (Officer), Jamee Cousens (Yarra Junction)
HF: Madeline Collins (Olinda Ferny Creek), Tali Verhoeven (Officer), Shanae Northey (Olinda Ferny Creek)
F: Danielle Weisgerber (Belgrave), Patsy Boxell (Yarra Junction), Allison Wartnaby (Officer)
R: Chelsea Wilson (Olinda Ferny Creek), Jade Mewburn (Yarra Junction), Natasha Hay (Thornton Eildon)
INT: Serenity Connolly (Belgrave), Emily Spicer (Yarra Junction), Ann Crymble (Seville/Woori Yallock), Nigisti Noorbergen (Belgrave), Emily Kerr (Thornton Eildon), Yvonne Pleydell (Belgrave)
COACH: Simon Gilson (Olinda Ferny Creek)
ASSIST COACH: Natasha Hay (Thornton Eildon)
CAPTAIN: Jamee Cousens (Yarra Junction)
Pakenham has received a whopping six selections in the Division One Women’s side, with the Lions rewarded for an excellent season.
The Lions saw defenders Rachel Betteridge, Roslyn Cook and Lucy Ventham named in the side’s star-studded backline, Chloe Nagel named on the wing after an eye-catching season through the midfield, with Belinda McGee and Bianca Moody also earning themselves bench spots.
Beaconsfield were another local side to have plenty of representatives with four Eagles named in the side.
Much like the Lions, the Eagles had two defenders named in the backline with Keely Dahlberg and Charlotte Jagusch selected, Lauren Hojnacki was named centre after a superb season, while Katie Angelis was named in the forward pocket.
In the Division Two Women’s side, Officer saw four of its players selected.
Maegan Davey and Natalie Holmes were both instrumental for the Kangaroos all season and were selected in the midfield group, while Tali Verhoeven was named at centre half forward and Allison Wartnaby in the forward pocket.
