By Ryan Long
It’s the start of a new era for Glen Waverley with a new coach, a new list, and the potential to charge up the Division Three ladder soon.
Since being promoted to Division Three after their Grand Final appearance in 2018, the Hawks have won just five of their last 28 matches, including just two in 2021.
And it’s led to a few internal changes such as hiring a new senior coach, Brett Gatehouse.
Gatehouse has had plenty of experience, coming across from the VAFA where he coached Division One side St Mary Salesian. The transition to a new club in the EFNL has been a successful one thus far, quickly feeling welcomed at Glen Waverley.
“It’s been really good, very friendly bunch of guys,” Gatehouse said.
“I got on well with them pretty much straight away, so it was pretty easy to come across and get to know the boys.”
Not only do the Hawks have a new coach, but they’ve also been able to attract some high-quality talent over the off-season including a host of names joining Gatehouse from St Mary’s Salesian.
Players such as Daniel Ryan and Louis Holmes are set to fill the boots of the departing Adam Amin up forward while other recruits such as Jack Gale and D’Arcy Grant can help fix a couple of the side’s defensive issues.
Gatehouse knows many of the players coming across from the VAFA well enough to recognise what to expect from them.
“The main thing with them is the effort and intent they play with, they all have a red-hot crack, they’re all fit, they’re very professional with the way they go about it which helps,
“They’ll certainly help on the field, and they’ve helped a bit at training as well with standards and stuff they’ve come across at previous clubs.”
The arrival of these recruits may play a crucial role in narrowing the gap between Glen Waverley and the top end of Division Three. They’ll bring an added level of leadership on and off the field, something that the club has been looking for over the last few years.
“For a couple of them, it comes naturally to them.”
“I didn’t ask anything special from them, a couple of them are just natural leaders, having been captains and vice-captains at previous clubs which is a huge bonus.”
Gatehouse has identified a couple of tactical components for Glen Waverley to work on before the start of the season.
“Two big things,
“The defence and the way we’re going to defend is going to be all about keeping it really simple.”
“Just from a few chats with some of the boys, they thought maybe the message out on the ground was a bit different last year so we’re going to make it simple, so that everyone’s on the same page and we’re all heading in the same direction.”
The 2021 season record of 2-7-1 isn’t overly flattering but it might not be the best reflection of how they’re currently tracking.
Four of their last five losses of the seasons were all within three goals, including an eight-point loss to an East Burwood side who were promoted to Division Two at seasons end.
Gatehouse believes that the club is on the right track and not as far behind as last season’s record suggests.
“They were certainly in games and just couldn’t quite finish them off, so certainly on the right track in certain aspects,
“Tidy up little things and a lot of those close losses turn into wins and the position on the ladder is completely different.”
There’s still a lot of work ahead in Gatehouse’s first season to close the gap between Glen Waverley and the top four teams of the division. However, the club has certainly made some positive steps forward in the early stages of his tenure.
A consistent brand of football each week will hopefully see the Hawks making significant improvements on their 2021 form.
“Just to be competitive for four quarters, obviously in some of those close losses last year, they might not have been competitive for the full four quarters, that’s a big one and that naturally turns into more wins,
“I’m confident with the squad we have now and the way we’ve been training, we’re going to have a solid year.”