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By: Daniel Cencic
Twitter: @DC_EFL
Heading into his maiden campaign at the helm of The Basin, senior coach Justin Stanton has added to the leadership stocks at Batterham Reserve as the club looks to improve on last season.
The Bears recorded five wins in 2017 to finish ninth on the Division 3 ladder.
In what has been a seamless transition for the former Beaconsfield coach, Stanton has been impressed by his new surroundings since being appointed last September.
Justin Stanton was appointed the Bears’ coach in September. PICTURE: The Basin Football & Netball Club Facebook page.
“It’s been really enjoyable,” Stanton said.
“The professionalism of the club and the way it operates off-field has been exceptional and has made it a smooth transition for me moving into the role.”
Stanton has recruited heavily, calling on long-time friend Beau Dowler to fill a key forward role within the side.
Dowler played 16 games for Hawthorn from 2006-2009, followed by a stint with VFL side Sandringham, serving as the club’s captain in 2012.
“Beau is someone that I’ve had a good friendship with for 25 years or so and had the opportunity to work with him last year at Beaconsfield,” Stanton said.
“When the opportunity presented this year, it was a good fit for both of us; I was after a key forward and he was keen to support me and come and play under me.”
Former Noble Park midfielder Daniel Galante returns to the EFL, following Stanton from Beaconsfield, while Jono Morris returns to the club.
Stanton believes all three have provided invaluable leadership.
“The mantra I had when I discussed (the role) with the club was ‘what have you identified as the shortcomings?’,” Stanton said.
“And it was very much around lack of on field leadership and the lack of guys in that 28 to 30 bracket where they thought the club would really benefit by having those guys on field.
“Daniel Galante and Beau Dowler have certainly offered that, along with Jono Morris as he’s played a lot of VFL football as well as (EDFL club) Doutta Stars.
“His professionalism is second-to-none and his on and off field leadership is really important also – he’s been a great addition.
“We’ve got a lot of young guys that I’m keen to develop within the club – some that are involved with Eastern Ranges and Gippsland Power that we’ll be able to develop when they’re not playing TAC Cup.”
Bears captain Trevor Mills, who has spent the last couple of seasons on the sidelines battling knee and ankle injuries, is said to be on track for a return this year.
“He’s over his injuries – he’s been decimated in the last couple of years,” Stanton said.
“He’s on the track and training hard which is pleasing.
“He’s been the main leader vocally and that’s why it was important that we get some other voices around him to assist on field.”
The new coach says the club has taken a ‘’realistic’’ approach in regards to its expectations for the season ahead, particularly with the competition restructure to five divisions due in 2019.
“The club’s realistic, they’re mindful of the fact that everyone’s trying to align themselves to make sure they’re on the right side of the ledger at the end of the year when it comes time to reform the new fixture for 2019,” Stanton said.
“We’ve got one eye on trying to remain where we are, but we’re also realistic to understand that coming off a base of only five wins last year, we’re a fair way off the pace.”
With Division 3 shaping up to be another tight contest again this season, Stanton is hopeful his side can produce consistent footy.
“I’ve spent a lot of hours watching the videos from last year and I watched all the finals campaign last year,” he said.
“Looking at how we were when we tackled Ringwood in Round 2 compared to how Ringwood were going at the backend of the year, it was miles apart and I think the results reflect that.
“We got them early in the year and then they belted us by 15-plus goals the second time we met them.
Watching them through the finals, along with Templestowe, while Heathmont were outstanding last year, (and) Scoresby were one of the red-hot teams at the backend of last year.
“We’ll take confidence that if everything goes to plan and each person plays their role that we can run with these guys at different stages, it’s just a matter of whether we can consistently put in four quarters and consistently stand up over an 18 round season – that’s going to be our challenge.”
The Bears have also expanded into senior women’s footy, and will field their inaugural side this season in the Deakin University Eastern Region Women’s Competition.
The side will be coached by John Hayhurst, who played over 400 games at Bayswater along with a further 80 at The Basin.
Hayhurst will be flanked by assistant coaches, including Michelle Dench who is the daughter of North Melbourne legend, David Dench.
A five-time Big V representative, Michelle Dench played 111 games for Melbourne University in the VWFL and has been named as an All Australian on three occasions.
With female footy thriving at Batterham Reserve, the club has grown from three junior girls teams last season to six female teams overall this year – under-10s, 12s, 14s, 16s, 18s and senior women’s.
The Basin kicks off its season away, taking on Warrandyte on Saturday, April 7.
