2014 EFL Pre-Season Wiki | Tomorrow: Norwood
by Ben Waterworth (@bjwaterworth)
BRETT Moyle thought his time was up.
Following his team’s disappointing 44-point loss to Croydon in the 2013 ‘Choose Tap’ Elimination Final, the North Ringwood coach sent shockwaves through his beloved club and the wider EFL community, resigning from his position immediately.
Moyle was “weighing up other things in life”. He even admits to flagging the idea of stepping down as far out as five to six weeks before the loss to the Blues.
But just days after that Elimination Final exit and subsequent resignation, Moyle promptly rediscovered the hunger – a hunger, not just to coach again, but a hunger to coach a playing group he loves and respects dearly. And vice versa.
“Luckily they hadn’t appointed a coach yet,” Moyle laughed.
Moyle, who played 48 games for St Kilda across a five-year AFL career, is back at the helm.
And he believes the Saints have unfinished business in Division 2.
“That is the only reason I am coming back [to win a flag]. If I didn’t think we could win it, I wouldn’t be doing it,” he admitted.
“I was never unhappy at the club. My time here has always been mutually beneficial for the club and I. But it wasn’t a good note to end on last year, so hopefully we can get a better result this year.”
Despite its disappointing first-week finals departure, North Ringwood’s 2013 season was a great success.
Following an emphatic, record-breaking 137-point Division 3 premiership victory in 2012, the Saints entered Division 2 with high expectations.
They did not disappoint in the home and away season, finishing in third place on the ladder with 13 wins, four losses and a thrilling draw with Bayswater.
Their final home and away win – a one-point victory over odds-on flag favourites Montrose at Quambee Reserve – had Division 2 pundits buzzing.
“To go up and not only survive but thrive was fantastic. We sat in second spot for most of year,” Moyle said.
“The continued improvement of our young players was pleasing. That has been happening every year since I’ve been at the club.”
One big positive – literally – was the season of recruit Tom Hill, who finished on top of the Division 2 All Trophies Goalkicking table with 72 goals from 17 games.
“Anyone who’s six-feet seven and can do what Tom does is remarkable. He kicked 70-odd goals, but I reckon he had 150 shots at goal overall,” Moyle said.
“He’s a great athlete and young enough that he can spend a fair bit more time down at the club. He has set a really good example over the pre-season by showing good leadership and training hard.”
The Saints have been relatively quiet, yet efficient, on the EFL transfer table to date.
Matt Scott, a former North Melbourne rookie-listed player who spent the majority of 2013 with the Box Hill Hawks in the VFL, will play with North Ringwood full-time in 2014. Look for the 188cm midfielder to have an immediate impact. Sean Calcedo, who captained a side to a premiership in the Colac and District Football League at the age of 20, will also make a difference, while Coldstream pair Daniel Price and Josh Gordon will provide invaluable experience.
Above all, Moyle is excited to have three Saints premiership players back on board after missing the majority of the 2013 season.
“We’ll get Jack Whelan and Matty Weeks back, who finished first and second in our Best and Fairest in our premiership year. Jimmy Candler is also back fit and ready to go. At his best and even at his age, he could make the best team in the competition,” Moyle said.
The Saints coach, who is personally not intending to pull on the boots this season, is thrilled to have kept the majority of his young playing group together.
“Keeping young players together is always the key. It can be tricky, because as they improve, other clubs notice they improve and target them,” Moyle said.
“But we’ve got a group of 19 to 23-year-olds who are all mates. They have achieved lots together and hopefully they can achieve a bit more still.
“That’s where our improvement will come from – from within. It will be our guys going from being good players to better than good players.
“It will be guys like Tim Jones becoming one of the best 10 players in the comp, Jack Whelan going from a good divvy three player to a good divvy two player, Tom Hill kicking 100 goals rather than 70.70 or Jayden Vanunen becoming close to our best player.”
Despite Montrose’s elevation into Division 1, Moyle is expecting another close year at the top of the Division 2 ladder.
“The three other sides that were in the top four last year will be there again. Doncaster has recruited well and shouldn’t repeat what it did last time [relegated from Division 2 in 2012 after winning the Division 3 premiership in 2011]. East Burwood has also recruited well, so have the Waverley Blues and I’ve heard similar things out of Mulgrave,” he said.
The top four spots in Division 2 will be hotly contested.
But with a promising young list and a hungry Moyle back at the helm, expect North Ringwood to be among ladder leaders again.