By Tash Gunawardana
Following a slightly inconsistent, yet enthralling, Division Three campaign in 2021, the Waverley Blues are set to contend in 2022 according to coach Tom Langford.
Langford hopes COVID will not impact their season and that his sides form from last season continues and they get to be a contender yet again in 2022.
The Blues had three of their players making the Team of the Year after five were selected in the squad, but late in 2021 they Matt Sharpe and Paul Savage retired.
They will hope they can replace these two and be a contender yet again in 2022.
The Blues have bolstered their stocks acquiring Claremont’s Brent O’Leary, Josh Williamson (Laurimar – NFNL), James Russo (Woorinen – Central Murray), Tom Steele (Ormond AFC – VAFA) and Darcy Brown (Old Mentonians – VAFA).
Senior Coach Langford hopes that 2022 will not be impacted significantly by COVID.
“I’m sure all clubs are the same, but after the disappointments of the last two years, our players and club overall are just hoping to have an uninterrupted season,” he said.
Tyson Hale made the team of the week in the last game of the 2021 season with four goals against Fairpark and adjudged best on ground. Langford believes he will have another stellar season for the Blues.
Jimi Roufos and Jaye O’Connell were players who were also consistent all season in 2021 and if they along with Hale continue their form in 2022 then the Blues will once again be a premier team in Division Three.
Early in the offseason, the Blues re-signed many of their best players in 2021.
The Blues have a hugely talented midfield, but they will hope the new recruits will be able to fill the massive midfield holes left from Blues legends Savage and Sharpe.
If the recruits are unable to fill this void, then it will a difficult 2022 for the Blues as they seek to put another solid season together and contend for the Division Three premiership once again and be promoted up to Division Two.
In more exciting news for the club, their Under 19 side, who were dominant across the truncated 2021 season, will compete in the Premier Division in 2022, showcasing the talent that is coming through down at Mt Waverley Reserve.
They’ll tackle the likes of Vermont, Blackburn, Noble Park and Rowville in an thrilling move for the Division Three club.
The club is over the moon with the opportunity presented to their next generation, and whilst the club won’t have the full aligned fixture list they usually crave, Langford says this opportunity is one that was too good to refuse for both the club and the players.
“It’s a great testament to the program we are running down here – and through the junior club as well,” said Langford.
“It proves that the club is heading in a really exciting direction and that some of the young guys will be even more ready to make the step up to senior level with us after they make the transition to Premier Division 19’s.”