By Davis Harrigan
Ringwood will be without some of its most famous names in 2022, but that doesn’t mean they’ll be expecting any less down at Jubilee Park.
If you’re looking for consistency in Division Two this year, then it will be mighty hard to look past Ringwood. The Redbacks have won 23 games in the past two seasons, including their disrupted 2021 campaign, finished top two on both occasions, and only just got pipped at the post by Mitcham in 2019.
The work is not done, and the challenge certainly not over as the prospect of a new season approaches.
Coach Brett Rowe is entering his fourth season at the helm, and is confident his side can continue sustained success, but highlighted there’s still an element of uncertainty that’s hanging around like a bit of a dark cloud.
“You always wonder about motivation because there’s uncertainty, and that is a challenge, because most players might be wondering, ‘what if we have to work through all of this again?’ and then what if it’s cut short again,
“I think they are motivated, but you just have to keep them giving them reinforcement, and as a group we’ll keep pushing along,” Rowe said.
At the time of writing, the season is still a fair distance away, so preparation is only just gearing up, and training becoming more intense. However, Rowe is happy with where everyone is at, and hinted that training numbers are strong.
“We’re in a good spot, and the guys have come back in reasonable shape,
“There’s ones coming back in really good nick and ones in the middle of the road, that’s just a natural outcome in local footy,
“At the moment we’re okay and looking alright as a group.”
Mitch and Trent Farmer have just announced that they are making the surprise move to East Ringwood, but the Redbacks have added Sam Wadley (Vermont) and Mitch Heckley (North Ringwood) to their list for 2022 and the coach is confident their depth will shine through.
“We have Ash Stagg, he was a real barometer for us last year when he got going, as a small forward he brought some really big pressure, he was really good for us,
“Jimmy Parker played on the wing, he’s only young but his ability to keep running all day is quite astounding,” Rowe added.
“We’ve got young guys in the back line, like Jack Murfett who’s always hard at the ball.
“If he keeps his body right and sound, he’s going to have a really good year as well.”
Despite having played most of their fellow Division Two sides frequently in recent years, Rowe and his group will continue to focus on their own game first and foremost in 2022.
“In the end, you might have a look at some vision, but for us, we want to worry about what we’re doing right as a group, because every year there’s always something different with another team,
‘You might look at one bit of vision, but then come up against them the next time and things have changed,” Rowe said.
“Teams will always have the same sort of game style, but we’ll adjust what we’ve got, and in my eyes as a coach, just do what I can, because it’s about us and backing ourselves in to get the job done.”
Ringwood were awarded the minor premiership in 2021 and while it didn’t satisfy the hunger of the playing group, Rowe says it was reward for the many hours put in by the clubs’ volunteers.
“When they awarded the minor premierships, in my eyes it was for our volunteers and supporters, that’s who the cup was for.
“Our volunteers put in a lot of our hard work, our supporters travel and they’re very loyal to us,” Rowe said.
“In my eyes, it was for them more than anything – as a playing group, we’re playing for something a lot more.”
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The Redbacks women will also be looking to improve upon some strong results in 2021. They topped. Division Two with a healthy percentage and will be keen to push for more in 2022.
Darren Ashcroft is back in the driver’s seat, and like any good coach is looking for more from his side.
“They’ve really come together well as a group and have a single goal in mind where they want to try and better themselves in their skill level, and be a better team,
“We just work really hard on helping each other and it improves the team more,” Ashcroft said.
As a coach, Ashcroft is always keen to bring out the best in his players and is assisted by an impressive resume.
“Having had a decent life in sport myself, and doing a lot of coaching in cricket, football, netball, whatever it may be, the main aim is to create a culture where everyone feels welcome and nurtured, and that we have positives outcomes from that,
“Having coached multiple clubs, and coaching the women’s team down here, it’s the most inclusive club I’ve ever been at,
“We train with the men, they get around and watch the girls and encourage them,
“Having been at five or six different clubs, it’s absolutely brilliant.”
Ashcroft is still keen to make sure his troops are always bettering their skills and knowledge of the game.
“We’d love to have our ball movement better and be able to transition the ball to different parts of the oval and be able to get that whole transition from back to forward quite fluently,
“We employ rules in training, so when someone takes a mark, they’re not allowed to run forward, and that makes someone from behind or around them run to receive the ball, and then the drill continues to play on,
“You wouldn’t do that in a game, but if you can instil that in the people around them, it’s your job to start to run off, we create that run and carry.”
Ashcroft also highlighted how important the leadership group has been in helping give everyone a voice.
“The biggest one is our leadership group have really taken a role in teaching and developing our younger players,
“I had a couple do it for a little while and I just kept praising them, and more girls are doing it now,” Ashcroft remarked.
“You’ve got these girls that have played for a number of years, and with their knowledge and the way they speak to the younger players, it’s fantastic.”
Only one ambition remains; for Ringwood to be consistent across four quarters and play as hard as possible.
“I’m just hoping we’re competitive if we’re competitive it will mean we’re not breaking everybody’s enthusiasm,
” If we can be competitive, especially early on, as the year goes on, we’ll get better, then I think we’ll have a chance of making the finals.”