2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki
by Alysia Thomas-Sam (@alysialts)
A STREAM of talent has settled onto Mulgrave Reserve for the 2014 season. And with a successful pre-season campaign behind their backs, these recruits may be the Lions’ ticket to finals.
Mulgrave welcomed in over 15 EFL veterans to its line-up, which, if all goes to plan, will reinvigorate the side to push out a 2010-like year.
Midfielder Dean Siakoulis says the influx of talent will help shape an improvement from last season, which includes the hopes of finals contention.
“We’ve picked up a few new signings, Rhett Wilsmore, Cohen Howell, David Eddy, Chris Doyle and that helps with a bit of experience as well to a young side. Hopefully we’ll pick up a few more wins and sneak into the four,” he said.
Coach Ryan James echoed Siakoulis’ ambitions.
“We identified that we [had] probably the youngest list in Division 2, so we obviously recruited to try and help these young kids,” James admitted.
“We’ve welcomed back five premiership players from 2010, so we just think a little bit more experience will probably help us where we faltered in our games last year.”
So, what has this experiment of youngsters and old timers resulted in the preseason training?
“All the young boys are really competitive and they push each other. Then all the experienced boys don’t want to get shown up by the younger boys,” James laughed.
Although, the preseason training has emitted positive vibes for the club. Siakoulis thinks the team’s structure and physical state has been realistically tried and tested.
“We looked good, we looked fit. Our structures are good,” he said.
“[We] have been against pretty good opponents in our two practice matches. I think we’ve fared up pretty well against them.”
Coaching against other Division 2 side this year is a task James does not take lightly, as he plucks out the teams that will be the Lions’ hardest battles.
“North Ringwood and Croydon are the teams to beat,” he stated.
“We’ve got a lot of respect as a club for how North Ringwood go about it and I think they seem to have added to their list.”
But, when the Lions come to face these battles, they have a strength that has been growing in the preseason. It is the fertiliser for their confidence going into their 2014 campaign.
“Our fitness levels are our confidence,” Siakoulis declared.
“I think we know that [if we] stick with a team until half time, we’ll overrun them in the end.”
The Lions’ incoming transfers are fortified by accolades and experience. This includes two Young Gun award nominees and five 2010 premiership players, including premiership captain Brad Fowler, as well as Andy Hayman (former Upper Ferntree Gully coach) as Assistant Coach.
All will bring an invaluable amount of experience to the club.
The Lions have evolved. They’ve flipped the downfalls they had last season and used it in their power to construct a club that will make Division 2 opponents wishing they weren’t coming up against the Lions.
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Yet James seems to maintain a pragmatic approach to the season, even with a revitalised senior list in his hands.
“If we just get to the end of the year and our list has improved and our young kids have improved, we’ll be happy,” he said.
“If that means we play finals, that’s all good. If we miss out, we’re just one more step closer than we were last year.”
While it’s difficult to tell if the Lions are going to play finals or take small steps to a future finals series, they’re on the way up. And you’ll be kicking yourself if you miss out on what they are going to achieve.
Catch Mulgrave kick off the 2014 EFL season against Bayswater at Bayswater Oval this Friday night.