2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: East Burwood
by Ben Waterworth (@bjwaterworth)
THERE seems to have been a shortage of supplies at the Ringwood Football Club’s canteen and kitchen over the past few months.
Why? The playing group is starving!
Not because they need to satisfy their tummies and general energy requirements.
Rather, these Redbacks are desperately hungry for redemption.
Following an impressive end to 2012, many Division 3 pundits believed the boys in black and white would feature deep into the “Choose Tap” finals in 2013. Instead, the Redbacks produced a frustratingly inconsistent campaign, finishing eighth on the Division 3 ladder with eight wins and 10 losses.
New coach Mick Gaul, who replaced Brent Jane in late 2013, has clearly noticed and sensed a positive, hungry vibe ever since walking through Jubilee Park’s doors.
“There’s a real enthusiasm. They were pretty disappointed with how they finished last year. They thought they underachieved,” he said.
“But they’ve all moved on now. There is a strong desire to make amends.”
Gaul, who coached the Glen Waverley Hawks from 2010 to 2013, is just as hungry as his players, believing he is joining Ringwood at an exciting time.
“It’s almost like a new club because there are so many new faces. We’ve added 10 to 11 quality Division 3 footballers, so there’s a big buzz around the place,” Gaul said.
The majority of those quality footballers have followed Gaul from the Glen Waverley Hawks to the Redbacks.
While they have not been officially lodged on the EFL transfers page yet, Rob Davies, Matt Carnelley, Brad Riddle, Aaron Riddle, Danny Gray, Josh Gray and Mark Foote are all set to don black and white jumpers this season.
Another recruit, Bayswater midfielder Mitch Brereton, has conversely been cleared to the Redbacks already. He has already caught his coach’s eye.
“Mitch is a quality footballer from a higher division who has brought a lot of enthusiasm,” Gaul said.
“He’s played at that higher level, so he brings lots of purpose to his training and his football in general. He’s really lifted his intensity at training, especially over the past few weeks.
“He’ll be running through the midfield and up forward this year. He’ll cause a few dramas for a few clubs no doubt.”
Gaul, who coached against the Redbacks in 2012 and 2011, immediately identified a lack of midfield depth upon his arrival.
That issue, he believes, has been addressed and resolved via these recruits.
“The midfield is going to be a real strength of ours now, especially with a lot more bigger bodies,” Gaul said.
“Ringwood has traditionally had lots of good outside players, but always struggled to get the ball out to them. Now we’ve got some inside players, like the Riddle’s and Mitch Brereton, who will help that.
“We’ve also recruited some backmen. Defensively we have not been that flash from a statistical perspective in the past, but an influx of key defenders will help curb that.”
Despite the seniors’ disappointing efforts, it was not all doom and gloom for the Redbacks in 2013, with their Under 19’s side taking out a well-deserved premiership.
“Quite a few of them have come up to the senior side too. There’s been a big influx of newer players from the Under 19’s, so this is a really healthy place to be,” Gaul added.
It would not be a pre-season preview article without asking the coach for his team’s expectations heading into another campaign.
Gaul’s expectation is honest and simple: make the finals.
“It’s not unrealistic. We only just missed out last year and we’re going to have a better playing list this year,” he said.
However, Gaul understands the task at hand will be no Sunday afternoon stroll in the park, predicting another tight tussle for spots in the Division 3 top five.
“It will be really close, very much the same as last year,” he said.
“That’s why we targeted depth. Depth will get you into finals and Grand Finals. Wantirna South had a lot of depth in their ‘Ressies’ week-in week-out and look where that got them last year.
“We haven’t lost anyone and 10 of our recruits will be walk-up starts in our senior side, so there will be some unlucky players. But it’s healthy to have that internal competitiveness.
“We’ve got some super kids coming through. We will be competitive.”
If they maintain their current hunger levels right throughout the season, they could be more than competitive.