By: Peter Baird
The Vermont Football Club has been built on a foundation of sustained success.
Unlike no other club in the Eastern Football League, the Eagles have forged a history of winning senior premierships for fun.
With 21 senior flags to their name, they needed to build a dedicated trophy room at Terrara Road to house the spoils of their victories.
While all that glitters may actually be gold inside that room, a winning culture and history of success would be mounting pressure on the current convocation of Eagles.
Entering its ninth season now without hoisting a senior premiership cup aloft, Vermont is embarking on the second longest Premiership drought in the club’s esteemed history.
Senior coach, Harmit Singh, doesn’t buy into the growing weight of expectation on his club though.
“Last year was still a very successful season for the football club as a whole”, he said.
“We won premierships in under-14s, 15s, 17s, and 19s, as well as a reserves flag.
“Unfortunately the senior group couldn’t complete the job on grand final day – South Croydon outplayed us when it mattered and deserved their win.”
Singh hasn’t let the disappointment of a season that many regard as a missed opportunity for the Eagles to drive motivation for his group during the preseason.
“We spoke briefly about the game as part of our review at the end of the season’, he said.
“From there, I’ve addressed certain specific issues with some of the players involved but we’ve moved on pretty quickly – you have to do that.
“Every year the competition improves and we know that we have to continually get better to stay at the head of the pack.
“The club has a fantastic junior development system and a lot of our improvement will come from internal development.
“We’ve brought in leaders from other successful football programs and this will complement what we have there already.”
Some of those leaders that Singh has added for 2018 will see a restructure of the coaching department at Vermont Recreation Reserve.
Former Balwyn senior coach, Marty Pask has transitioned from the Tigers to a new role looking after the forwards at Vermont.
Gary Connelly will be in charge of the backline and favourite son and club legend, Brad Cullen returns to look after the midfield.
Vermont hasn’t wasted any opportunity to supplement the playing list that finished on top of the Division 1 ladder last year, losing only one game for the season before going down on grand final day by 18 points.
Former Vermont junior Joe Fisher, returns from the Box Hill Hawks, and midfield maestro Tom Maas will join the Eagles from South Barwon.
Former Collingwood listed VFL player, Jordan Collopy has renewed acquaintances with his old Northcote Park coach, Harmit Singh at Vermont this season while Andrew Ainger, a 196cm utility has returned to Melbourne after 100-plus games in the SANFL with Woodville West Torrens and will pull on the purple and gold.
The Eagles have headlined their recruiting with the signature of former Port Adelaide forward, Brett Eddy.
“Brett is a real leader and we’re excited to have him on board this year”, Singh said.
“He is a dynamic and skilful forward who is extremely mobile and quick and has terrific hands.”
There is a new look and feeling about this group of Eagles in 2018.
For nearly the first time in the club’s history, they will run out in Round 1 of a new season without a former Vermont senior premiership player amongst their ranks.
Questions will be asked about their capitulation on the biggest stage last year and the growing number of years since the club last tasted senior glory but Singh is purely focused on the job at hand.
“It’s a new season and I want to look forward rather than backwards,” he said.
“We’ve addressed areas where we can improve and have our eyes squarely fixed on round 1 and the upcoming season ahead’, he said
There is certainly a hunger and excitement about Singh and his group heading into this season.
Coming off the back of two successive grand final losses where it finished minor premier both times you can’t help but feel that the Vermont Football Club will be looking to make some more space in that trophy room at Terrara Road.
Vermont kicks off its season hosting Balwyn at Vermont Recreation Reserve tomorrow. Tune in on 98.1FM or stream live on www.efl.com.au for full coverage from 1pm.
