2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Lilydale
by Damian Watson (@Damo_109)
AN unwavering quest for improvement is a primary asset for sporting teams when looking ahead to a new season. The Mitcham Football Club has epitomised this trait consistently in recent years.
Coach Scott Homewood says season 2014 is no exception.
“We have a very driven group who will go after as much success as they can,” he said.
“Everyone is pretty excited about what they can make of this year through their natural improvement.”
The Tigers coach says a sense of united ambition and “great motivation” has lifted the club out of the mire and into premiership contention throughout his tenure.
“When I first arrived, the club was not having the on-field success it would have liked, but the continual improvement and determination each year has allowed us to push and progress,” he said.
Homewood himself exemplifies the value of persistence, serving in his fifth year as Mitcham coach and becoming one of the current longest serving one-club coaches in the competition.
He credits his longevity and drive to coach to his players.
“I’ve always had a philosophy that the coach serves the players,” he said.
“If they keep chasing for success then I feel I have to be on the ride with them.”
The ride for Mitcham this season appears intriguing, particularly with an influx of new recruits arriving at Walker Park.
Former Balwyn forward Jayden Hoegel joins brother Chris at Mitcham, while Pat Tomkins (Scoresby), Adam Bultruweit (Nunawading), Jack Purcell and Josh Bell (Donvale) also serve as notable inclusions for the Tigers.
“The new boys are fitting in extremely well,” Homewood said.
“The recruits are very self-driven in the way they keep themselves in shape, so they fit in well with the culture we have created over the last few years.”
Homewood said the imposing Mitcham forward line comprising of Steve Pimm, Chris Hoegel and Johnny Pignataro are determined to be a formidable goalkicking combination in 2014.
“They are very important to the side through their goal scoring ability and they are revving themselves up for a big year ahead,” he said.
“Steve has worked hard and is in very fit nick, while Chris has built on his strength and bulk in the gym and could push up the ground. We had an old-fashioned pre-season where everyone has been tested to within an inch of their life.”
The Tigers coach said the team is eager to improve from last season, which ended with a gallant Preliminary Final loss to Doncaster.
“We learned that coming fourth in the regular season will make it a very difficult finals campaign,” Homewood said.
“The loss in the Prelim gave us a belief that we are capable of anything if we can get everything to work from early in the year.”
It is no secret the Mitcham Football Club is experiencing a 33-year premiership drought, currently the longest in the Eastern Football League.
However, Homewood says this well-publicised fact will not heavily impact on the team’s mindset this season.
“The drought is certainly not the driving force for us and it’s not something we really bring up,” he said.
“It would be a nice drought to break one of these days, but the reality is with a young list the drought is not much of a focus.”
The Tigers coach says Division 3 this season will be as tight and condensed as the last.
“I don’t think there will be a hunted side, most sides have picked up and I think every team will be capable of a win every weekend,” he said.
Mitcham is set to host Heathmont at Walker Park for its first home and away match on 5 April.