By Jared Beanland.
Mitcham’s 2022 season was one out of the box for those of us looking in from the sidelines, however going into season 2023 the Tigers are determined to prove it was not an aberration.
The boys from Walker Park proved that they belong with the heavy hitters of Division One last year, coming third overall, with 11 wins during the Home and Away season.
An unexpected win over Mooroolbark in the finals was the highlight of the year, yet two weeks later they came up short in a rematch against the Mustangs, ending their impressive 2022 run.
Senior men’s coach Neil Winterton reflects that last season was a great success, given it was only their second year in the division.
“We were really happy with the season we put forward – we had a bit of a tough start to the season playing Mooroolbark and East Ringwood in the first two rounds, which put us on the back foot, but we were able to string together some wins during the middle section of the season,” Winterton said.
“Winning our first final against Mooroolbark gave us a lot of confidence. Getting through to a Prelim final in our second year up in Division 1, I think was a good outcome for us, and obviously we look to build on that coming into this season.”
The games against those two best sides of the division last year went a long way in highlighting some of Mitcham’s deficiencies.
Through the preseason, Winterton was set to take any lessons he can, and the first order of business was to secure the services of former Basin player Nick Hallo – one of the stars of Division Two in the past few years.
“I think there were some areas that were magnified a little bit in those couple of losses to East Ringwood and Mooroolbark. I think we needed to strengthen up our midfield a bit, which we’ve been able to do with the acquisition of Nick Hallo over the summer.”
“He’s been a dominant player at The Basin at his time there, I think he won a couple of Best and Fairests, we’ve played against a couple of seasons ago, so we know what he brings to the table. He’s been a real standout for us during the preseason, I can’t wait for him to don the Mitcham jumper and strut his stuff.
Winterton has identified a balance of recruitment and development as the best way for the Tigers to move forward. Given this, there are a few new names around at Walker Park who he’s excited to unveil.
“We’ve still got a relatively young list when we won the flag in 2019. A lot of those guys were around 19-20, and now they’re 22-23, and I think with the extra seasoning, and another preseason under their belt, they’re getting a bit fitter and stronger, we’re expecting a bit of natural improvement.”
“Coupled with some recruits we’ve got including Danny Baglava who’s played previously at Balwyn, to head our ruck division for us. Bailey Cowman has come across from Wantirna South, and he’s another tall option for us up forward.
“So we’ve been able to add a whole heap of players, couple that with improvement from our young guys, we feel that we’re in for a good season.”
A couple of players who have come on in leaps and bounds over the past couple of seasons are set to star this year according to Winterton.
Guy Laughlin and Jesse Cherry both played 19 of a possible 21 games for Mitcham last year, and while not the marquee players of the club, represent the strong core of maturing regulars.
“Guy Laughlin’s one for us who’s had a good season for us last year, and took another step in the finals – I think he was named our best finals player, and that’s when your good players need to step up. But I can see him take another step even further this season, he’s got himself super fit, he’s right up the front in all our running, and he’s put on a bit of size as well.”
“So I think he’s someone I can see taking another step forward. Jesse Cherry’s another one as well, Chezza’s one of our key midfielders who’s been an excellent player. He’s come to the club and finished high in a couple of our Best and Fairest counts already.
“He’s another one who’s put in a really big preseason, he’s got himself as fit as he ever has been and is another one who’s put on a bit of size as well. I think those two there can have a really big year for us.”
Having been a playing coach in season 2021, Winterton took to the sidelines last year.
“You’re always learning as a coach, when you’re out on the ground coaching, you see things around the ball a lot more, and you can know what’s happening around the ball. But as a coach on the sidelines you have to get used to watching the whole ground a little bit better.”
“I think we can structure up a little bit better and set ourselves up behind the field. We got better at that as the season went on, and I think having another summer to focus on that sort of stuff will stand us in good stead.”
The formula is there for the Tigers to make a run at the Premiership, and a spot in the Premier Division.
The trick, according to Winterton, is to learn how to sustain their periods of good footy.
“I think it’s just getting better, and doing what we want to do for longer periods of time. I think you saw that with East Ringwood and Mooroolbark, the two teams we came up short against in the finals. We mixed it with East Ringwood for the first quarter and a half in that final, and then they blew us out of the water for the next two and a half quarters.”
“We weren’t able to sustain our effort for long enough and do the things we do well for long enough, so I think it’s a matter of doing it for longer periods of time, and the results will come from there.”
“We want to play finals, and once finals come around the season resets itself, and you’ve gotta go again. So our aim is to make finals, and obviously finish as high as we possibly can, but we understand it’s a competitive competition with North Ringwood coming down, and South Belgrave coming up, I suspect those teams will be really strong. And it was a bloody competitive competition last year as well. So yeah we’re hoping to play finals, and then we’ll reset once we get there.”
Mitcham’s women’s side goes into their second year this season. Taking the reins from Reece Thomas will be Jess Grace. Grace played ruck for the Tigers, and unfortunately ruptured her ACL last season. This gives her a chance to try her hand at coaching for season 2023.
The Tigers women reached an unexpected finals berth in Division 3 last year, being eliminated by Coldstream in the first week. This loss notwithstanding, Mitcham still had an excellent debut year, especially when considering the expectations one would have of an entirely new team.
“I think it was really great to see the development from the start to the end of the year, you don’t really ever expect to make finals in the first season your first season as a club. So to be able to do that, and continue on with a pretty similar team to last year is awesome.”
The prize recruit of the offseason for the Tigers is Georgia Fairburn, coming across from Ringwood after a season consisting of an impressive 32 goals from 11 games.
This will give the Tigers some much-needed firepower going forward this year.
“She came second in the goalkicking in Division One last year, and has a pretty good reputation with her previous footy history, so having her on board will be awesome”
Grace comes into her new role with an attitude of competitiveness, but has not let that get in the way of fun and experimentation during the preseason.
“I’m trying to get the girls to develop their footy and help them in those areas, but also bringing the fun into it. I think so often footy can get mixed up, and be have a huge focus on winning or losing, and we want to bring the fun back into it.”
“And while doing that helping the girls develop their skills, and individual things they want to work on. But yeah, I think the biggest thing is building a strong group and having that fun element with that.”
“I think change is always a good thing, so we’re having a bit of a different outlook on this year. Last year people got pigeon-holed to one or two positions, and through the preseason we’re giving everyone a go at all those positions, and trying to work out where is best suited to them. So it’s definitely not going to be the exact same as last year, but you never want to change something too drastically and throw it out the works.”
Having comfortably beaten Coldstream late in the season last year, and twice in total in the home and away season, the loss to the Cougars in the finals stung just that little bit more. The two were close on the ladder for most of the year, both ending with six wins and six losses.
This rivalry is set to continue into 2023.
“The Coldstream match-up is definitely one that the girls are looking forward to getting back hopefully this year. It’s definitely not nice winning those games during the home and away season, and losing a final. It makes you a little bit hungrier. We’ve got a few new sides in our division this year, so that’ll be interesting as well.”
The outlook on the sophomore year of Mitcham is overall positive. Grace is confident of continuing the run the girls had last season, and feels that they’ve given themselves every chance to do that during this pre-season.
“We’re very positive going into this season, I think. I was able to watch the girls from a different perspective last year, and now flipping that into more of a coaching role… it’s great to see the difference between last year and this year with how much everyone has developed.
“And picking up a few players always helps, so I’m very positive going into the season ahead.”