By Josh Ward
It was a flawless year for the men’s and a promising first season for the women’s, as Coldstream stamped its authority on the interrupted 2021 season.
Coldstream’s men’s side took their game to another level in 4th Division last year.
After missing out on a Grand Final berth in 2019 they finished last season as the only unbeaten side across the entire EFNL men’s competition with an 11-0 record and a percentage of 543.29%.
Despite not winning that elusive premiership the Cougars will compete in Third Division for the first time since 2012 after being promoted into it off the back of an irresistible campaign.
Senior men’s coach Chad Rogers told efnl.org.au that preparation is going well ahead of their return to the fourth tier of the EFNL this year.
“Like everyone COVID’s had a bit of an impact in terms of everyone getting back to work and being at training the whole time,” Rogers said.
“But our core group’s been pretty strong and we’re looking forward to going into [the] Third Division.”
This past offseason they’ve focused on and have retained most of its core group from the past couple of seasons.
They’ve also made a few signings on top of that, with Scott Adams coming up from Lilydale and Sean Renkema moving from Chirnside Park.
Rogers said they were quiet on the recruiting front due to how strong the core group is at Coldstream.
“We understood our list was pretty good in areas. We just wanted to cover some areas that we know we’re a little deficient in.”
Whilst they have signed most of their core group, one player that has left is Brad Batten-Leitch to his junior club Montrose.
Batten-Leitch spent two seasons with Coldstream, kicking 54 goals in 27 appearances as well as making the 2021 EFNL Division Four Team of the Year.
Rogers knew that one day he would eventually return to the Demons, adding that he was proud of how he redeveloped his passion for footy with the Cougars.
“We were glad that we helped him find his passion back for footy and good luck to him, I think he’ll be very good in First Division.”
They could also be without star forward Darcy Fristch after his stellar season on Coldstream return.
Whilst he has signed on at the club, Rogers confirmed that Fritsch had been training with the Port Melbourne VFL side.
“[He’s] been down doing a preseason at Port Melbourne. Depending on how that continues to go we might see him for most of the season, half the season or not at all, we’re not really sure where that’s going.”
Rogers believes that whilst it is a new challenge in Third Division, he believes that they can still be a contender this coming season
“We don’t know a lot of the teams in Third Division because we haven’t been in there for a long time,” he said.
“We just need to go in there with the right attitude, show respect and hopefully our ability will shine through.”
Meanwhile the Coldstream women’s program will enter into its second year in the women’s competition.
They showed plenty of promise in their first season, despite finishing second last in Third Division and losing eight times, they still won twice in its first season early on in the season.
The Cougar women will have a new coach for this season, with current Veterans player Ben Gardner signing on as coach.
Gardner said recently to efnl.org.au that he’s enjoyed his time so far as the women’s coach at Coldstream.
“It’s a real family environment.
“I love what they do down there and I’m really comfortable with the Coldstream footy club.”
His main focus for the side this year is to continue to develop and improve them.
“We’re looking to go that one extra step this year and improve, get some more numbers and build on from last year,” he said.
“Hopefully make some finals, that’d be nice, but I think any improvement we can have going forward would be good.”
The side has brought in a few including Courtney Madeley who comes across from North Ringwood.
Gardner has already coached her in the Valley Vicious game late last month and is excited to see how well she can perform with the Cougars.
“I’ve seen a bit of her and she’s a really good kick, so she brings a lot to us.”
However, they have lost one of their stars this offseason, with Gardner confirming that Bree Pascoe has left for Yarra Old Grammarians in the VAFA.
Despite losing her, Gardner believes that with the squad he has the women’s side can improve from their 2021 season and be a potential finals contender this year.
“I think we’re probably/hopefully one of those sides that are there and thereabouts, [but] definitely think we can improve on last year.”
