2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Chirnside Park
by Dan Campbell (@DC_Sting)
STABILITY in football clubs is a must.
It has the capacity to separate the contenders from the also-rans in any given year. And the off-field successes of stability can pay off handsomely.
Stability brings sustainability and, ultimately, powerhouses of football.
With a new direction taken at the Eastern Lions in 2014 with new senior coach Leigh Murphy at the helm, stability is the only way forward at Fairpark.
“It’s the club’s hope and certainly mine that there’s a bit of sustainability in what we’re doing. We’re planning out the next five years,” Murphy said.
“There’s a lot of planning in place by the committee and everybody with that sort of mindset that we’re looking into our future. Most of our decisions have been a bit short-termed in the past. It’s definitely a directive.”
With a new directive comes new players and, in 2014, the Lions welcome back Darren Murphy, brother of Leigh, after one season at Bayswater.
“Darren is coming back for a few reasons, mainly to help me out. He’s been at the Lions in the past and been a real figurehead, well respected and played great footy,” Leigh said.
“I was hopeful that last year he’d go up to divvy two and showcase just what a talent that he is. But I don’t think he really got that opportunity as best as I was hoping he would.”
According to Leigh, brother Darren’s contribution is one to watch out for in 2014.
“I have every confidence that he’ll come back and put probably as good as, or better, back on the park like I know he’s capable of. He’s put on the best individual performances that I’ve ever watched in footy,” Leigh said.
“I certainly have high expectations and I think he’s really fit and ready to go for it again this year.”
Other inclusions have been Daniel McLachlan, David Beck and Damian Wallace (Bayswater), James Donato (Rowville), Shane Mercer (Boronia), Lucas Topp (South Belgrave), James Filtness (Upper Ferntree Gully), Jordan Halliday, Jayden Dihood, Jackson Zaloumis, Nathan Cuss and Hayden Degraaf (Ferntree Gully).
LIONS TO FIELD UNDER 19’S
Many of the new inclusions have made an instant impact, as the Lions look to field an Under 19’s side this season.
Murphy cannot speak higher of the excitement surrounding these new Under 19’s players.
“It’s been like winning the lotto,” he said.
“We have a very strong line-up with about 25 or 26 now. These kids have been a breath of fresh air this year. They’re great boys, they’re really close mates. Most of them have come as a collective from high school to try and stay together.
“There’s a lot of talent among them and there’s just such a great camaraderie. They’ve just filtered into the club and been part of the bigger picture straight away. We really think they’ll be part of our future.”
One man who has been as big a part of the club as any over the years, Jamie Devenish, looks set for another promising season at the Lions, according to Murphy.
“He [Jamie] has had some surgery in the off-season on his shoulder, but he’s back and firing and played in Sunday’s intra-club match and got through really well,” Murphy said.
“I think we’ll probably even see an enhanced ‘Devo’ this season. He’s looking fit and strong, and hopefully with his shoulder now, he’ll be even better than last season.”
OPTIMISTIC
While winning only three games in 2013 may not read favourably among EFL pundits, the view from inside the Lions’ Den is one of great optimism.
“I think fourth division has been pretty even in the past. Certainly South Belgrave were a pretty strong side, but that leaves the rest of the teams being reasonably close,” Murphy said.
“I think if we can be consistent on and off the field over the next period of time then we’ll go a long way to being successful. We matched it with Forest Hill last year, who were in the Grand Final.
“I really don’t think that we’re that far below the mark and I think there’s a few corrections that we can make that will impact and see more success this year.”
While excitement and optimism may seem generic feelings among any football club as a new season is heralded in, there has certainly been nothing generic about the Lions’ brand of excitement and optimism this pre-season, with Murphy’s training program stepping outside the ordinary.
“We ran a pre-season event on Sunday, an Amazing Race. We ran our intra-club at North Melbourne’s footy ground [Arden Street], and we did all these different activities afterwards,” Murphy explained.
Stability and sustainability are of great cause for excitement and optimism.
And for the Lions, the path is clear as the Murphy reign begins at the Den.