After departing the 2019 finals series in straight sets, Ferntree Gully are pumped to get back out on the field in 2021.
The Eagles finished second on the Division Three ladder in 2019 with 14 wins and four losses but met South Belgrave in the first week of finals and were thumped them to the tune of 107-points and couldn’t re-group quickly enough to rebound against the Waverley Blues.
Brent Kiker has since taken over as senior coach from Peter Farrell in 2020 and went about retaining the half a dozen recruits from the year before, which leaves the Eagles in good shape to tackle the 2021 season.
“We have added Paul Caruso from Upper Ferntree Gully and Sean Currey who wasn’t going to play last year is returning,” Kiker said.
“We did lose Nick Knoops to Boronia, but he was the only one.”
There is a lot of experienced guys around at the Eagles and the captains have good support.
“We have got dual captains, they are just carrying on from last season, so it’s Jess Moore and Kieren Gray,” Kiker said.
Kiker believes many of his list will have outstanding seasons in 2021.
“We have got a raft of highly talented under-19s players and I see a lot of them getting opportunities at senior level and it’s just natural improvement across the board without giving you any names.”
Kiker has gone away from traditional goals for the Eagles this season, looking for consistent attributes rather than mere results, but remains steadfast in where he thinks his team should finish up.
“I think early definitely fitness, as far as throughout the season one of my main goals for the team is, we got to be adaptable and just resilient to whatever challenges come up,” he said.
“It’s pretty broad, but that’s our main focus being adaptable and resilient.”
“Goal is to play finals but doing it off the back of the good mix of experience,” Kiker said.
Off the field and Kiker and the crew are heading towards being a one club at the Eagles as they look to further bonds with both the Female sides and the Netballers.
“From the women’s point of view, it is fantastic having the women’s team led by Tim (Cavanagh) and not only that with the netball as well makes us more rounded as a club.
“That bond is only going to get stronger as the seasons go on.
“We are just going to build that connection.”
“We’re a club on the rise, both on and off the field and we’re looking at playing both an attractive and exciting brand of footy,” Kiker said.
Ferntree Gully senior women’s coach Tim Cavanagh is excited about what his team can achieve in 2021, following a long lay off.
“We did a mini pre-season before Christmas and it was excellent, great turnout and enthusiasm, the girls were looking sharp,” he said.
“The missed year in 2020 has definitely built up even more excitement and anticipation for the coming season.”
Looking ahead to the season, Cavanagh cannot wait for actual football to commence and to see his team fulfill their untapped potential.
“We want to be making continual progress in terms of skills and game awareness and we want to play finals footy,” he said.
It is pleasing from the women’s coach perspective that the men’s coach is supportive of the women’s team.
“Whilst we are separate programs (men’s and women’s) we are absolutely one club, who support one another and we are striving together to create a genuine sense of community at the club,” Cavanagh said.
“Brent Kiker our senior men’s coach, is a big supporter of the women’s team which we greatly appreciate and certainly helps foster the ‘one club’ culture.”
Cavanagh urges the Eagles fans to come and cheer on the women’s team.
“We’ve got a great bunch of young women representing the club in 2021, you should be proud to have them don the jumper, get around and support us, as big things are on the horizon for women’s footy at Ferntree Gully this year and, in the years, to come.”
Ferntree Gully commences its season against Fair Park on Saturday, April 10 and the women’s fixture has not been released at time of writing.