After a disappointing 2019 campaign, finishing with only four wins and a number of close losses, Mulgrave are looking to climb the Division Two ladder in season 2021.
Senior coach Ryan Webster is only weeks away from finally getting his Mulgrave tenure under way and the former Vermont star said he couldn’t be more excited.
“I just can’t wait to stand up in the coach’s box at Mulgrave and watch the boys play footy,” Webster said.
Despite his inaugural season with the club being cancelled, Webster said plenty of positives came from the 2020 preseason.
“I was pretty excited (prior to 2020) just judging off what I’d seen on the training track,” he said.
“I reckon we would have not only played a different style to what they did in 2019 but also we would have played a lot better and would have, in my opinion, won a lot more games.”
Fortunately, Webster said it appears that much of the club’s hard work in 2020 hasn’t been in vain, with player commitment levels carrying over into this preseason.
“I thought it was going to be a bit of a slow start after not playing footy for a year,” Webster said.
“But we’ve had 40 plus on the track since day-dot. I can’t fault the player’s enthusiasm and their commitment to training, it’s been really good.”
Although most of the senior side remains the same, plenty has changed at Mulgrave during Webster’s short time at the helm, particularly in terms of the club’s ethos and philosophy.
Webster said his main focus has been ensuring the players respond positively to the programs he is installing and are willing to work within them.
“We’ve had a big culture shift in regards to how we go about things,” he said.
“I’ve been trying to install development programs, training programs…and make sure that the players are driving the processes, the culture, the standards and the skill development.
“I want to be achieving a whole group ethos as far as the players knowing that ‘hey, we’re all in this together.’”
A particularly big change set to be imposed upon Mulgrave on game-days is the way the Lions play their footy.
Webster said he has been emphasising a desire for players to take the game on and play a more aggressive, exciting brand of football.
“We’re definitely going to play fast, exciting footy,” he said.
“Move the ball really quickly and I’ll give the blokes the confidence to use their own flair and take the game on.”
However, perhaps the biggest change for Webster’s Lions will occur off the field.
Following a tumultuous few seasons, Webster said he wants Mulgrave to become a club that “opponents respect as much as we respect them”.
With an emphasis on commitment, each and every Lions player will be expected to uphold an important set of values, both on the field and off it.
“We’ve got four key phrases we’re all going to try to adhere to for this year and they’re going for everything we do, whether it’s at training, match day, or off-field,” Webster said.
“Run hard, tackle without fear, protect those around you and stick together.
“Those phrases form our whole ethos about what we’re going to do at training, how we play on match day and what we do off-field as well.
“We want to get back to being a really respected club.
“What I’ve said since walking in the door in 2020 is ‘it’s a clean slate lads, you’ve got to show me what you can do, where you want to play and then it’s up to us to show the rest of the competition where we are at.’”
To help Mulgrave put the competition on notice, the club has brought back some important former players; it has also managed to retain all of its 2020 recruits.
“Effectively everyone who had plans to play or signed on during 2020 has returned,” Webster said.
Among those set to pull on the Mulgrave jersey for the first time are Matt Homfray from Beaconsfield, Southern FNL Division Two Team of the Year member with the Doveton Eagles, Nick Beer, as well as Dane Gallagher and Mitch Jacobson from Rowville.
However, perhaps the biggest recruit for Mulgrave is the return of 2019 Paul Edie medallist Jaxon Gervasoni.
After signing for Doncaster in 2020, Gervasoni will be returning to Mulgrave for the 2021 season, a major win for the club.
“Jaxon Gervasoni, obviously it’s amazing to have him back, the reigning division best and fairest,” Webster said.
“For me just starting as coach, it’s a massive shot in the arm for the club itself, that blokes like Jaxon want to come back and play at Mulgrave.”
In terms of the list overall, Webster said he is happy with the depth and believes it can cover losses at every position.
Another benefit of the Lions added depth will be the increased competition for senior spots.
“I’m not saying we’re going to be the best team out there but we’ve got a pretty deep list now and some blokes who were playing every week in a certain position in previous years will be under pressure now to hold their spot,” Webster said.
“Internal competition is always good to have.”
With the season only weeks away, Mulgrave is preparing to get off on the right foot with a win over South Belgrave at home in Round One.
Webster said he is most excited for Saturday footy to return to the calendar and can’t wait to see some “reward for effort”.
“The players are the ones who have done all the hard work during the preseason,” he said.
“Hopefully we get a W in the column in Round One and then just build from there.
Mulgrave host South Belgrave on April 10th to kick off the 2021 Season.