7 DAYS TO GO | EFL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2018 season with the #InFocus2018 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
By: Jessie Hare
Twitter: @JessieHaree
Will 2018 finally be the Year of Zebra? Forest Hill is chasing the premiership dream this season.
After yet another grand final appearance, the Zebras fell short again by just 12 points to Donvale in the Division 4 grand final last season, making that their third grand final loss in just five years.
But the Zebras are well and truly ready to break that premiership drought come season 2018.
Is 2018 the year of the Zebra? PICTURE: Forest Hill Football Netball Club Facebook page.
After a strong pre-season, senior coach Martin Stillman has been impressed so far by the commitment of his playing group.
“The last two years we’ve been close in grand finals so that does serve some motivation but ultimately the 2018 playing group will be different to the playing group of 2017,” Stillman said.
“We’ve rearranged our coaching structure with more coaches and line coaches this year, and training since we commenced in November has been fantastic, been well-attended and the boys have put in a really good pre-season.”
In the recruitment side of things, Forest Hill has been busy behind the scenes making sure it snapped up some big names.
The Zebras have picked up Mitcham-great and renowned forward Steve Pimm, who played in the Tigers’ 2015 Division 3 flag, while Michael Cardamone returns to the club after serving as a playing-assistant at The Basin for three years, and senior playing coach at Coldstream last season.
Stillman is happy with their recruiting over the off season and made mention of another few players that will be seen in the Forest Hill colours.
“Daniel Ousley from Rowville, a midfielder, he will be a very good player for us this year,” he said.
“Luke Strachan who played at Vermont under-19s and Upper Ferntree Gully will also be a key forward this year.
“David Black returns from East Ringwood who was a former Forest Hill player and Ian Taylor who is another small forward from the Southern League.”
Daniel Ousley has transferred from Division 1 side Rowville to Forest Hill for 2018. PICTURE: Gavin Morris Flickr
With two grand final appearances in the last two years, it is shaping up to be that this Zebras team could be the one to break their premiership drought.
While their last flag was 33 years ago, the club is ready to go for the upcoming season with Round 1 just around the corner.
“Our goals are initially to win enough games to qualify for finals, so that will be our first goal. Our second goal would be to hopefully qualify for the top two so you can get a double chance,” Stillman said.
“Effectively once you get to finals it’s a whole new season, so the initial goal is to play finals.
“Obviously playing the last two grand finals the goal would be to play finals and hopefully go that one step further but a lot of water to go under the bridge and long way to go until September.”
Stillman has worked with the playing group to create their own motivation to continue to improve on their unfinished business last season.
“I think every coach and player get to that certain point where they want to get over the pre-season and stuck into matches,” he said.
“We are really keen to get the four premiership points on the board Round 1 against Surrey Park, which will be a really difficult game for us, we’ve had some great battles with them in recent years so I expect Round 1 will be a hard-contested and really hard-fought game.
“Across the board we’ve just tried to improve our skill level, sticking with our game plans and also insure that players fitness levels are higher than that of last year.”
Forest Hill opens its season against Surrey Park at Forest Hill Reserve on April 7.
