By Trent Callen.
East Burwood enter the 2023 fold with a sense of hope attached to the year ahead, after their strong showing last season, before they were roadblocked in the Preliminary-Final by a troublesome Ringwood outfit.
With head coach David Jensen taking over, after stint at both the Redbacks and Surrey Park in recent times, a refreshing set of eyes might just be what the doctor ordered to help the Rams conquer Division One.
Word out of the East Burwood is camp is pre-season has been going “really well,” according to Jensen, with the new coach at the helm opening up on the changes made after a good founding base was set.
“We’re trailing some new additions to the way we want to play, building on the really good things that ‘Stewy’ left us with, in playing a fast and frantic brand of footy, so we’re just continuing on from that,” Jensen said.
With the dress rehearsals in the lead-up to the season opener already run and won, Jensen was able to see first hand the messaging over the Summer period come to fruition out on the park, in a competitive environment.
“The defensive side of our game has really improved which we could see, but there’s still areas we need to get better at for sure.”
Jensen also acknowledged those that sprung to mind, when quizzed with names that haven’t missed a beat this pre-season, and have set the training track alight in preparation for the year ahead.
“The Reddy twins (Angus and James) both look exciting players, Jaymie Kempson is another, he looks a ripper, quite versatile, but with him we’ll try and play him in one spot, get him used to playing in a single position.
“Young Damon Maurice was sort of in and out of the Seniors last year, but throughout the practice matches he’s shone, looks fantastic as an on-baller.”
“And the backline just generally speaking, Kodey Logan looks brilliant, beautiful user of the footy, our defence as a whole looks really solid this year.”
“Matt Jenkins is another that has had a pretty solid pre-season and looks like a bit of a utility for us heading into the year, one that can play different spots and we’re hoping for big things from him,” Jensen added.
After much deliberation at the trade table this year, it’s kept list management staff at the Rams busy over the off-period, signing some key figures with a number of recruits making the move to put pen to paper at East Burwood.
Following the news of Jensen calling the Rams home for 2023, the floodgates opened in a sense, with a host of talent walking through the doors.
The head coach sounded out the long list in a roll call type fashion, warmly welcoming the services they’ve secured, starting off with Fallon Wanganeen, one who’s fitted in seamlessly, triggering Jensen to recall his first impressions.
“Wanganeen has come across from South Australia, he is a big bodied key position player, his first night he came down to training and it was raining sideways and he was one that just grabbed everything, it was amazing to see.
Another name Jensen reeled off, is Aaron Foss, complementing his worth ethic both on the training track, and after crossing the white line, mentioning he brought his own footy to the St. Bernard’s practice match.
“Aaron Foss, has come across from Mount Eliza as a midfielder, he’s setting the world on fire,”
“Damien Murray has come across from Bayswater as a playing Assistant coach, so he’ll more so be looking after our backline and contributing quite a lot, his footy IQ is brilliant so we’re loving his input.”
The Blackburn pair of Kyle Dove and Jake Bellis have been received well within the group, with Jensen touching on the versatile nature of the two, hinting at the license that gives him to shuffle the magnets around.
“Dove is a key position, one who has also played 50 odd games at Port Melbourne I believe, he has been a really good inclusion for us, Bellis is another addition for us, he looks the part up forward and probably can play others spots as well if necessary.”
“James Connellan, is another one of the big recruits for us that’ll make a difference, in a high forward role, who looks real mobile and kicked a stack of goals in the VAFA,” representing Whitefriars.
Jensen has remained bullish of their chances in 2023, with the new head coach happy to share his objectives outside their four walls and be transparent with his messaging, instead of keeping it in-house.
“Going off the back of last season, the boys finished 3rd on the ladder and ended up making a Preliminary-Final, so our goal, and we’re not going to be quiet about this, is to chase a double chance again.
“So we can secure that and reset come finals time should we make it, but that’s our goal 100%”
The open book approach Jensen has adopted is a likeable trait to have at the start of his tenure, with consistency in his two-way communication model, noticeable in their spaces available for openness and honesty.
“They’re very excited, very keen and they believe in the stuff we’ve brought in, the feedback has all been positive from the group and we can’t way to get stuck in.”
In an off-field capacity, Jensen highlighted the new leaf that had been turned over, with a full changing of the guard in management roles, commenting on the fresh faces at the Rams in a coaching overhaul.
“It’s a whole new coaching group, as I said before there’s Murray that has come across as our backline coach, ex-player Brett Hendricks has returned to the club, he’ll take a hold of our forward half.”
“Craig O’Malley is our development squad coach, he’s about to break a club record this year in terms of the amount of games played.”
Jensen also notified the EFNL of their decision to head down the co-captaincy path.
“This year we’re running a joint captaincy model, so we’ve got Matt Mariani and Max Wills.”
With a peer voted exercise done to determine the make-up of the on-field leaders, Jensen stressed the importance of having a point of call for the crop of kids to lean on throughout the season, in appointing a bright eyed second in charge.
“We did a player vote and those two were both clear standouts, but we also wanted to have input from the younger guys coming up as well, with a link there in terms of leadership, so we’ve got Ev Stamatopoulos as our Vice-Captain, and rounding out the leadership group is Marcus Young and Ed Rixton.”
The Senior Women’s side will also be looking for another strong season after the Rams won the Division Three premiership.
Despite a very young side, East Burwood dominated, losing just one game all season.
Finishing second on the ladder, the Rams defeated their biggest rivals, Croydon North MLOC in back to back finals to claim the premiership.
Holly Booth won the Inaugural Senior Women’s Best and Fairest for East Burwood with a very strong consistent year.
Two of best goal kickers in the competition was Cecilia Baldassarre and Sarah Jones who combined for 68 goals. Baldassarre played just seven games for the season and still managed 35 majors. Their firepower up forward was one of their biggest strengths throughout the year.
Bronte Rowlands was also credited for her big season, listed as a Ruck Rover in the EFNL Team of the Year
Premiership coach Ali Rock will remain as the senior women’s coach, as the club enters Division Two.