2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Warrandyte
by Alysia Thomas-Sam (@alysialts)
THERE is a certain beauty in the slow descent of a plane as it flies down to reach its destination. Not so much in the fall of a footy team on a league ladder.
Unfortunately, Chirnside Park knows this downward motion all too well.
After winning the Division 4 Grand Final in 2009, the Panthers were promoted into Division 3 where they couldn’t seem to shake off their premiership hangover. They slipped down the ladder each following year, capping off their most recent downfall with a 10th placing in 2013.
So, how does captain Scott Hamill reflect on the past years?
“Well, I guess the results have been a bit disappointing the last few seasons,” he said.
But Chirnside Park is ready.
The club has fought off the prolonged 2009-premiership hangover during its pre-season and is raring to take on Division 3.
As senior coach Leigh Horsburgh heads into his second year as coach, he is confident and has “more knowledge from having a year in the system.”
“Last year was my first season down there, so obviously this year knowing the playing group a fair bit better, I’ll probably change the style of game plan,” he said.
NEW PLAYING LIST
Another positive endeavour in preparation for the 2014 season was the Panther’s mammoth revamp of their playing list.
Horsburgh has welcomed the incoming transfers with open arms.
“I think with what we’ve received and what we’ve lost, we are a stronger group than what we were last year,” he said.
“The guys that we have recruited aren’t necessarily superstars or match winners. But they’re going to improve the depth of the footy club, which is what you want – you want a strong 44, not just a strong 22.”
As Horsburgh exercises rational faith in wanting a universally strong squad, he’s also had his eyes on two standout players who performed promisingly in the preseason.
Tim Gover completed his first proper pre-season and managed to pull through reasonably unscathed. After consistent form for the reserves team, Gover is likely to hold responsibilities in the seniors’ backline this season.
Anthony Bernado, who won the Panthers’ Best and Fairest award in 2013, also caught Horsburgh’s attention. He had an impressive pre-season with a couple of minor injuries, but overall showed solid form within his work rate.
With new faces running around the club, new game styles being implemented on specific teams and first-class pre-seasons being pushed out, the emotions for skipper Hamill and the squad are at an all-time high.
“Everyone’s pretty excited about, hopefully, the improvement that’s been showing on the track. It’s a pretty exciting time throughout the place,” he said.
BIGGEST THREATS
Even with this confidence and excitement floating in the air of Kimberley Drive, which team is most likely to extinguish the Panthers’ season?
“There are two [teams] that I’m most worried about,” Horsburgh admitted.
“Just seeing Mitcham last year and they did a job on us on their ground and with the recruits they’re getting, they seem to be getting a lot of big name players from Division 1.
“And obviously Wantirna South – they’re not the youngest side going around, but their senior players are just quality and you can’t beat quality when it comes to big games.”
As they say, no pain, no gain – and the ache of the last few seasons for the Panthers should jolt them into a ferocious hunger to win come Round 1.
The Panthers’ main priority for 2014 needs to be winning matches, consistently and convincingly.
Horsburgh acknowledges their subpar win-loss ratios of late and is realistic with the direction and poise of the Panthers’ objective this year.
“I’m not a big goal setter, so as long as we are better than the previous year and we can keep working on that then I’m happy,” he said.
And Panthers fans will hope Horsburgh is smiling this year.
Chirnside Park kicks off its climb back to the top against the Whitehorse Pioneers at Kimberley Reserve on 5 April.