2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Donvale
by Braden Ingram (@BradenIngram)
THE 2014 season is set to be one of the most competitive in Division 3 for many years.
It’s a tantalising prospect for the neutral observer and for the teams who were in the thick of the action in 2013.
The Upper Ferntree Gully Football Club spent 2013 in Division 2, but relegation has thrust it right into the logjam that is Division 3. As much as they tried, the Gully made little headway in their three years in Division 2, failing to finish above seventh place.
Relegation however, could prove to be a blessing in disguise.
New coach Chad Rogers has every intention of making a big impact in his first season in charge of a senior club.
“I’ve got every confidence in the group that they have the capability to play finals this year, no problems at all,” Rogers said.
“However, you just don’t know till you start competing and playing against the opposition.
“They’ve been training really well, they’re fitness is up and they’ve been open to the game plan.”
Rogers comes to the Kings from Montrose following consecutive Reserves premierships in 2012 and 2013 as a player-coach. His team remained undefeated across both seasons.
Under Brett Johnson, Rogers feels he’s learnt more than enough to take on the senior role, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see many of Montrose’s traits in the way Gully play this season.
COACH FROM SIDELINES
With the responsibility of stepping up to the senior role and an ever tiring body, Rogers has decided that coaching will be his sole focus for 2014, given his promising list.
Not only is the list promising, it’s also extremely young, which has given Rogers a clean slate to mould and work with.
“Our captain Tim Riseley is only 24. There’s only a couple of blokes in their late 20’s. The rest of them are 19, 20 or 21, so we’re a very young group,” he said.
“It’s probably a good opportunity for me to take them at this stage and build a strong club for the future.”
It’s fair to say that through the transfer window there have been more outs than the Gully would have liked. But the ins aren’t to be scoffed at.
The headline pick up is Justin Laughlin, who was the co-winner of last year’s EFL Division 1 Reserves Best and Fairest.
The additions of fellow Division 1 players Daniel McDonald and Ryan Silver (Scoresby) and Luke Strachan (Vermont ) will also bolster the list.
“From what I know as a new coach, we’re really impressed with our ins. They’ve been great, not just in terms of skills, but also leadership and what they’ve brought across from opposition clubs,” Rogers said.
“It’s hard to go past Tim Riseley and Matt Lawson as the most impressive so far because of how they prepare themselves and go about it on the track.
“As a collective all the new recruits have been really good and have brought back excellent enthusiasm to the club.”
Among the many losses are two players that have proved vital for the Gully in the past in Alex Calder and David Eddy.
However in their one scratch game so far against Upwey, Rogers was pleased to see his young group step into their assigned roles and move the ball with fluency across the ground.
ROUND 1
Amongst all this positivity and confidence is the reminder of the huge task the club faces in 18 days’ time.
The Gully has the unenviable task of facing reigning Division 4 premiers South Belgrave at the fortress that is Belgrave South Recreation Reserve in Round 1.
“We’re just looking forward to it. I understand that their forwards are their strength, but obviously they’ve lost a couple as well,” Rogers said.
“You’re always wary playing someone who’s unfurling their flag, so you know they’re going to be up for it.”
“It’s about getting the players mentally prepared so we’re up for it as well and capable of stopping their midfielders from feeding the ball down forward.”
