By Josh Ward
Whilst new boys Oakleigh District are excited to be joining the EFNL, they are very aware of how fierce and competitive their new home will be.
The Districts join Beaconsfield as the two new clubs in the EFNL men’s competition having spent its first 71 years of existence in the Southern Football Netball League.
Competing in the SFNL Division One for the past five seasons, they finished second last (ninth) in the division with a young side. They’ll begin their new EFNL era in an open and extremely tough Division Two.
President Miles Jones recently told efnl.org.au he and the whole club is still buzzing to be in the EFNL.
“The positivity that was around the group was exciting and it still is. Make no mistake, we understand it’s a better (and) fiercer competition, so we must try and continue to challenge ourselves to improve,” Jones said.
Majority of the side from the last couple of years in the SFNL Division One have re-signed, with Jones glad that they had decided to stay on despite heading into this new and unknown league.
“We’re quite happy with the fact that everyone’s enthusiastic about moving across. I thought some resistance would be there and felt, but that wasn’t the case.”
Oakleigh have added some class to their list too, with Chris Casset and Ross McColl joining from the West Gippsland league, Ben DiCicco from Glen Waverley, Rayan Chazbak as well as Matthew Bedggood from North Gippsland side Heyfield Kangaroos.
Their biggest signing this offseason though is that of Isaac Conway.
The 2013 Rookie Draft No.6 pick comes with plenty of state level experience including more recently having spent between 2017 and 2021 with Port Melbourne.
He previously spent 2015 and 2016 with Werribee after being on the Brisbane Lions rookie list in 2014.
Jones said that Conway had brought plenty to the table so far, including a higher standard at training, and he had bonded well with the playing group.
“Ultimately [though] he’s an absolutely fantastic guy, he’s bonded very quickly, he’s happy, he’s excited by what the challenges lay ahead of him, he understands where the club wants to go and everything else,” he said.
“We couldn’t be more excited about Isaac joining the club, he’s added a lot of experience, professionalism and enthusiasm.”
However, Jones said to also keep an eye on North Gippsland recruit Bedggood, saying that he has also brought plenty of professionalism and a higher training quality so far.
And whilst they will enter a new competition this year, Jones said they’ll look to consolidate their position in the Second Division this year.
“I think if we can be mid-table in our first year, I’d call that a pass. Of course, any higher is always a bonus, but I’d call that a pass.”