By Matt Fotia
From the outside looking in, it’s panic stations at the Lilydale Sports Oval, but new coach Brendan Fulton is excited to see what his new look Falcons can do in Division One this season.
Fulton was announced as Lilydale’s new coach following Ben Neagle’s departure due to personal reasons late last year after taking the Falcons to three straight finals appearances.
The job at Lilydale will be Fulton’s first foray into senior coaching following a number of stints as an Assistant and Under 19 mentor, most recently at Premier Division club Blackburn, and what an introduction it has been.
The 2018 Grand Finalists have lost a handful – or two – of regular senior players including Lachlan Wilson (Barwon Heads), Patrick Klep (South Croydon), Samuel Baker (Mooroolbark), Tori Klaas-Henry, Joel Koger (both Croydon), Richard Wyles, Sam Horsley (both Yarra Glen) and Jarrod Healy (Rowville).
But Fulton believes the element of surprise will be a big weapon for the ‘Dales’ in 2021.
“I think the unpredictability of this group is the exciting part,”
“The fact that not many of these guys have been seen and the type of football we’re going to be playing isn’t something we’ve seen in the past gives us an element of surprise,”
“So yeah, I find it exciting.”
Not only will the Falcons be new look, but they’ll also have a new approach to the game, as Fulton and his coaching staff look to refine the way Lilydale go about their football, modelling themselves on a famous EFNL underdog.
“We want to be a team that puts immense pressure on the opposition, but it’s about refining the way we put pressure on opponents, so we don’t get caught out the back,”
“We want to come forward to defend, slide to support and put enormous pressure on the ball carrier to look to turn the ball over,”
“It’s moulded somewhat on the South Croydon grand final victory (2017 v Vermont), the way they just pressured the middle third of the ground and were really hard to come through,”
“Whereas historically we’ve (Lilydale) folded back and launched our attacks from defence, which is easier to defend, and with the personnel leaving like Wilson (Lachlan), Baker (Samuel) who are the guys who can get through defences with speed, we have to be different,”
“We have to play a style of football that holds up on the bigger grounds in finals.”
The focus on a new way of playing has been received well by the 2021 playing group, with Fulton preaching to his squad that a collective effort can cover the loss of any player.
“It’s been a learning curve, but the reports back have been that they’re all engaged in what we’re doing,”
“The sell is from our point of view is that – hey boys we’ve lost some personnel, but I don’t need you to be superstars, I just need you play a role,”
“If we get defence right, we can all attack, so the attack will take care of itself.”
Baker has left for Mooroolbark
Lilydale have become notorious for blooding youth in recent years and 2021 will be no different under the new regime, with Fulton bordering on giddy at some of the youngsters pushing their way into the senior ranks.
“In no particular order you’ve got Jackson Flint who I honestly can’t believe isn’t playing at least VFL football – he’s incredible,”
“Ryley Clausen has been announced co-captain, he’s a ripper, elite athlete and the skills are there, but will need some time,”
“Jack Bateman is a big strong lad coming through the 19’s who’s been very successful in his Under 19’s footy, but there will be a big weight on his shoulders coming into our senior side and being a key target in our forward line, but he looks to be someone who could set us up for the future”
“Josh White is still an under 19 but we think he can play senior footy regularly and shows heaps of promise and there is a handful of others who are something to be excited about.”
As for the outside noise, Fulton says it will only fuel the fire within for him and his group.
“Internally we want to embrace the underdog status, we know round one is our best opportunity to bring some shock and awe,”
“We’re hearing Lilydale’s cooked – but that’s all good, we’ll just focus on us.”
Lilydale start their 2021 season with a trip to Mooroolbark on the 10th of April.