TEMPLESTOWE – DIVISION 3 RUNNERS-UP
Home & Away: 15 Wins 3 Losses 2043/943 216.65
Finals: 2 Wins, 2 Losses
Coach: Rick Irwin
Best and Fairest: Daniel Jackson
75.3% Win Ratio
Templestowe’s record over the past three seasons is only bettered by one other club in the competition (Balwyn) however the ultimate success has eluded the club since its Division 4 Premiership in 2010.
Having developed a Division 2 mentality the only thing missing for Templestowe was a Grand Final win to complete the transformation. The Dockers are no strangers to finals struggles – the club suffered three consecutive grand final losses in the mid 90’s before their Division 3 Premiership in 1997.
2014 15- 3 Runners Up
2015 14- 4 Finished second (lost to The Basin in Preliminary Final)
2016 15- 3 Runners Up
The Dockers started the 2016 season as many expected them to. 7-0 with a percentage beyond 300 Templestowe were poised to make their elusive assault on the Premiership a reality.
The following week they met the other undefeated side, Upper Ferntree Gully. Premiership favoritism was comfortably in the hands of the Dockers at the final change with Templestowe holding a 15-point buffer. Confidence and mental advantage shifted late that afternoon as The Kings booted 3.4 to 1 goal to hold on and win by just one point.
Majority of the back half of the season was comfortable for the Dockers who had their eyes firmly fixed on a top three finish.
Templestowe fought off Heathmont in Round 11 and Scoresby in Round 16 to win by less than a goal however opened the door for Boronia who on their home turf showed they were a potential top 5 threat with a five-point win.
Upper Ferntree Gully fielded a full-strength side as the two sides met in Round 18 – Templestowe made seven changes from the side that had defeated South Belgrave the week before. The Kings made the most of the confidence they had built in the second half of the season claiming an 11-goal win.
The Dockers have, in previous seasons, have had to fight through finals series. 2016 was no different, finishing second and losing the Second Semi-final played all four weeks of the finals.
They comfortably got on top of Heatmont in week 1 after being challenged physically in the first half. From there the climb got steeper, meeting Upper Gully for the third time for the season they found themselves down by 27 points before a final term fight back almost saw them snatch victory from the jaws of defeat.
On route to a Preliminary Final pressure was the Dockers side who played under weight of expectation. Ringwood coming from fourth had flexed their muscle to defeat Heathmont the week prior and pushed the Dockers to go down by four points in the dying minutes of the game.
Templestowe claimed early honours on Grand Final day with the Reserves claiming the Premiership over Upper Ferntree Gully, a feat no replicated by the Senior side as the Kings pulled away in the second term to keep the Dockers at arm’s length most of the afternoon.
The Dockers will enter the 2017 season with a new coach and a chance to finally break the duck. The club has built towards Division 3 success for the last three seasons and will be looking to not only claim that elusive premiership but be playing in Division 2 by 2018.
