YvWater 2026 Season Review | Bulleen Templestowe
By Ryan Long.
A historic second-season in the Eastern Football Netball League for the Bullants as they featured in their first-ever senior finals series and first senior Grand Final.
SENIOR MEN’S
Summary:
Ladder Position: 3rd (12-4, 251.78%)
Best and Fairest: Josh Sticca
Leading Goal Kicker: Will Rimmington (61 Goals)
In just their second year in the Eastern Football Netball League, Bulleen Templestowe played off in the first-ever senior Grand Final.
The Bullants, who missed out on last year’s finals series by the barest of margins, were quick to make improvements in 2026, recruiting well over the off-season with key names including Will Rimmington and Marcel Haj moving from Templestowe, and Jack Pekin joining the club from Marcellin OC.
Starting the season 3-3, Bulleen Templestowe won nine of their last ten games to qualify for their first senior finals series in the league. They advanced through to the Grand Final after two comprehensive finals victories, 49-point winners in the Elimination Final against Fairpark, 40-point winners in the Preliminary Final against Chirnside Park.
Although they fell short of their first senior premiership in the league, their performance on Grand Final Day was admirable against a very strong Warrandyte side. Multiple lead changes, with both Josh and Jake Sticca starring in the midfield, defensively also holding up well, keeping Warrandyte’s Gabrielle Stumpf to just the one major for the afternoon.
The Bloods came out on top by 15 points to claim the flag and promotion to Division Three, but the Bullants lost no admirers from the day.
Best Win: Preliminary Final: Bulleen Templestowe 14.11 95 def. Chirnside Park 7.13 55 @ East Ringwood Reserve
A very strong performance against last year’s Grand Finalists saw the Bullants secure a spot in the 2026 Grand Final.
The Bullants won all the major key stats for the day, including the clearance battle and the Inside 50 count.
Holding a steady lead for most of the afternoon, Bulleen Templestowe kicked six of the final eight goals to blow out the final margin to 40 points.
Daniel Quinn was superb with 30 disposals on the day, while Will Rimmington booted four goals, the most of any player on the ground.
Key players:
For the second year in a row, a Sticca won the league best and fairest! Last year, it was Jake who claimed the Stephen Jones Medal; this year, it was his brother Josh. Josh Sticca averaged 22 disposals, 5 clearances and 7 score involvements per game, taking out both the club and league best and fairest medals.
Jake Sticca was just as dangerous, one of the best players in this year’s finals series, he finished as the runner-up in the club best and fairest.
Daniel Quinn, another of the big recruits for the side this year, averaged almost 26 disposals per game, having five games of 30+ disposals.
Tom Rattray-Wood was excellent on Grand Final Day and throughout the season in defence, one of five Bullants to be named in the Team of the Year.
62 Goals for the year for Will Rimmington, adding another piece to the puzzle for a Bulleen Templestowe side that looks dangerous to win their first flag next year.
What’s next?
Significant improvements in 2026 have the Bullants in a great position heading into 2027 if they can keep their current list together.
Five members of the side made this year’s Division Four Team of the Year, including Jake Sticca, who was named captain of the side.
Their Under 19.5s side played off in a second-straight Grand Final, which should see some more players slot into their senior line-up over the next couple of seasons.
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