2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Park Orchards
by Ben Waterworth (@bjwaterworth)
IS this the season when the Waverley Blues announce themselves as genuine Division 2 contenders?
Looking at their productive activity on the EFL transfer table over the off-season, a climb up the ladder could be in order.
New coach Ben Carboni, however, is keeping things realistic.
While the Blues have remained stable in Division 2 after winning the 2008 Division 3 premiership, they have been on a slow, gradual slide down the ladder.
After falling half a game short of the top four in 2009, they have finished sixth, eighth, eighth and ninth on the ladder respectively over the past four years.
“Personally I would love to push for the top four, but my first point of call is to get us out of the relegation zone and consolidate. We need to say in the division,” Carboni admitted.
That attitude exemplifies Carboni, a workmanlike footballer with a real appetite for success.
The 30-year-old takes over as Waverley Blues playing-coach for 2014, following a distinguished career at the VAFA and Mid Gippsland Football League.
Carboni player over 150 games with Caulfield Grammarians and won multiple league and club honours, including a Senior Best and Fairest medal, two senior interleague appearances, four Team of the Year guernseys and a senior premiership as vice-captain.
In his one-off season with Thorpdale in 2013, he came second in the league’s Best and Fairest count, won his club’s Best and Fairest award and represented the league in the country championships. Amazingly, he was named in the club’s best players in 17 of his 18 matches.
A fair CV, to say the least.
However the Blues have always held a special place in the star midfielder’s heart, as he played the majority of his junior career at Mt Waverley Reserve.
And Carboni did not hesitate in applying for the senior coaching position when he saw the opening.
“I basically wanted an opportunity to play and join back up together with some of my mates who’ve been playing elsewhere. We always said we’d do it and we thought it was a good time and place to do it while we could still have a decent impact,” he said.
Since walking back through the club’s doors, the Blues’ new coach has been blown away by the committee’s backing.
“Between [president] Gav Kaye and [vice-president] Troy Fairburn, they have an incredible willingness to support the players with everything they want. They have also been very supportive of me and given me more than enough when it comes to training facilities, more players and more coaches,” he said.
Carboni will not be riding solo as head coach this season though, with James Lawson appointed the Blues’ senior assistant coach. With over 10 years of junior and senior coaching experience, Lawson will be supporting his playing-coach from the interchange bench on game day.
“James has one of the best analytical football brains I’ve ever known. He’s a real student of game,” Carboni said.
“He’ll be very good at reviewing players and previewing opposition teams. His main thing, though, will be working out how we setup in defence.”
As aforementioned, the Blues have been busy on the EFL transfer table during the off-season, boosting their midfield stocks in particular.
Matt Sharpe (East Ringwood) and Ben Turner (Balwyn) will bring invaluable Division 1 experience, while dual Blues premiership player and Team of the Decade member Andrew Slevison has returned home.
Despite losing 2013 club Best and Fairest winner Hamish Leahy and key forward Robbie Hartfield, Carboni is thrilled with how his list is taking shape.
“All of our recruits are relatively home-grown. We haven’t gone too far out of our network. Most have come to the club because they knew someone else there, which helped them all get over the line,” Carboni said.
The one exception to the Blues’ “home-grown recruits” over the pre-season is Will Finlay (St Albans), who had no previous affiliation with anyone at the club.
“Will is six-foot one and super athletic. He has a crack at absolutely everything,” Carboni said.
“I asked him where he wanted to play this season and he told me I could play him wherever I wanted. It makes it pretty easy for me!
“He’s a good swingman, but I’ll probably use him on the flanks and on the wings.”
As for coaching philosophies, Carboni has no secrets.
“I will keep everything pretty basic. Nice and simple,” he admitted.
Carboni’s task of lifting the Blues into the top four will be no easy task on the contrary.
But with a new coach on board and a handful of excellent recruits, success seems imminent.
