Derby103
Team Captain
At least Upwey won't have to go very far to borrow Yea's grey jumpers this week (I assume that they will be?). Prior to 2003 (when the League brought in their white-shorts-for-away-teams rule), both clubs would happily wear their striped jumpers with dark shorts. That could be a bit challenging for the spectator. I'm glad that YVMDFL clubs haven't (yet) gone down the route of white away jumpers, such as those now worn by Coldstream, Rowville, Vermont, etc. I suppose its just a matter of time though. Anyway, the last season Monbulk didn't lose at least once to Upwey was 1985. Even in Monbulk's premiership years, they would still drop a game to Upwey at some stage. Monbulk won both home and away games this year (by 24 and 16 points), but Upwey weren't about to let them get off that easily, and the two clubs meet again this week. Monbulk and Upwey have met in second semi-finals only twice before - in 1997 and 2006. Monbulk easily won in 1997 and went on to win the premiership. Upwey won narrowly in 2006, but Monbulk again won the premiership (after strangely being denoted as the home team in the grand final). Last week showed that Upwey should never be underestimated in finals, but I feel that Monbulk have the edge here and should win by 18 points.
Woori Yallock and Gembrook meet for the 7th time in 15 months in the first semi-final. Woori have won the three matches at Woori and Gembrook have won the three matches at Gembrook since the start of 2010. There have been some pretty dour struggles too, with both coaches seemingly preferring to play things pretty tight against each other. The exception was the grand final last year, which was a high-scoring and open game. Hard to pick a winner here too, but maybe Woori as they had been in sensational form until last week and (like Olinda) may have suffered from losing the toss last week in the wind. Woori by 7 points.
Woori Yallock and Gembrook meet for the 7th time in 15 months in the first semi-final. Woori have won the three matches at Woori and Gembrook have won the three matches at Gembrook since the start of 2010. There have been some pretty dour struggles too, with both coaches seemingly preferring to play things pretty tight against each other. The exception was the grand final last year, which was a high-scoring and open game. Hard to pick a winner here too, but maybe Woori as they had been in sensational form until last week and (like Olinda) may have suffered from losing the toss last week in the wind. Woori by 7 points.
