On Wednesday evening the extended AFL Outer East community came together to celebrate the season that was (or in some cases is still going) and also toast the best of the best from season 2019.

And the two apples of the League’s ( and umpires) eyes in 2019 were Woori Yallock’s Zach Monkhorst and Cranbourne’s Tara Cecil.

Monkhorst was a key figure in the Tigers relatively successful 2019 campaign, which saw them finish the home and away season in fourth.

The honour of being the league’s first ever medal winner was a bit of a surprise, despite the fact he’d been playing some amazingly consistent football throughout the year as a mobile, goal kicking ruckman.

“I guess that’s right, it was a bit of a surprise, I wasn’t expecting it, but it’s a great feeling.

“It was good to play some good football and get some votes I guess,” Monkhorst said when speaking to GameFace at the completion of the evening.

The main talking point for the league this season has been the amalgamation of the South Eastern clubs into the Yarra Ranges competition. Monkhorst says that whilst the Tigers four new opponents have been hard to take on, the challenge has been one to embrace.

“The new competition has been good, it’s been a good challenge, obviously the South Eastern football teams, you know Beaconsfield, Berwick, Narre Warren and Cranbourne, they are tough teams, but that’s the standard we’ve (Woori Yallock) got to get up too.”

Another major talking point around league circles was the vastly different ground dimensions across the new competition, with likes of Wandin’s Clegg Road being compared to Beaconsfield’s Holm Park, which if you weren’t already aware, is a massive discrepancy.

But for Monkhorst learning to adapt to the new surfaces is a simple equation.

“I think it comes down to having a big pre-season, because you’re obviously covering more distance, so you’ve got to prepare for it,”

The Tigers were the only ex Yarra Ranges side to return from the South East with any points this season when they drew with Cranbourne in round 12. Unfortunately for the Tigers supporters, they were unable to go one better in the Elimination Final a fortnight ago at Doveton, with wayward kicking a major issue.

But Woori’s number 20 insists that the Tigers will only get better in years to come, such is their want, desire and tradition.

“There’s always improvement to be had and Woori Yallock is a great club that always tries to get better,”

Finally, he managed to sneak in a little jab at his father, Damian Monkhorst, who despite having a storied AFL career, was unable to win a League Best and Fairest – according to Zach.

“Nah I don’t think (he has).”