35 DAYS TO GO | EFL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2019 season with the #InFocus2019 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
By: Steve White
BLACKBURN is hoping to go one better in its 2019 EFL Premier Division season.
Finishing the 2018 regular season with 12 wins and six losses, the Panthers finished in fifth spot ahead of Balwyn and had to take the long road in their finals campaign.
After knocking off both Rowville and Doncaster in the first two rounds, the Panthers went down in a heartbreaking five-point, extra-time loss to eventual runner-up South Croydon.
Entering his second year as Blackburn coach, Brendan Allen is hoping to find that little bit extra to win the club its first senior flag since 2002.
Allen addresses his players. PHOTO: Davis Harrigan Photography
“We did a lot of tinkering last year trying to get the balance right, particularly at the start of the season,” Allen said.
“We certainly improved on our scoring averages from 2017 but to win finals you also have to be very good defensively.”
Blackburn’s off-season recruiting drive has netted it some key pieces.
Into the ruck steps big-man Lachie Howe.
Howe joins the club from Collingwood in the VFL and was also listed at Yarrawonga last year in the Ovens and Murray League.
The 200cm, 100kg ruckman is a central piece to the Panthers’ 2019 campaign.
“It’s a big get for us,” Allen said.
“Lachie is a fantastic bloke, very knowledgeable and his ruck-craft is second to none.
“We identified the need for a dedicated ruckman last year.
“Kyle Dove, to his credit as a non-natural ruckman, did a fantastic job last year in the ruck and Lachie’s acquisition allows us to move him back into a defensive role.”
Ryan Bathie (pictured below) has also committed to the Panthers’ full-time for 2019 from Richmond’s VFL list, after kicking 34 goals in 17 games last year for the Burners.
“Ryan is great to have around to mentor the younger guys,” Allen said
“He knows his footy really well, and when he talks the playing group listens.”
Also joining the Panthers this year is Xavier Murphy’s youngest brother Liam, adding to a Blackburn line-up hungry for a premiership in the inaugural EFL Premier Division season.
A premiership player with the Sandringham Dragons in 2016, Liam Murphy joins the Panthers from De La Salle in the VAFA.
The EFL may have a new format for 2019 but Blackburn finds itself among all its familiar foes from seasons past.
“It’s going to be tight again,” Allen said.
“The thing that stood out to me last year is that if you don’t show up on your day then anyone can run over the top of you.
“Last year we had a bit of a teething period in the first five rounds when the players were adjusting to me and vice versa.
“This year we will be going into the start of the season a bit more settled and focused.”
Blackburn’s women’s team is also looking to go one better this season after it was pipped by four points by Donvale in the 2018 grand final, in its first season in the Eastern Region Deakin University Women’s Division 2.
Head coach Leeann Gill is confident of another strong season despite her relatively inexperienced squad.
“At the start of last year, we only had two girls that had played any kind of competitive footy before so to make the grand final was a fantastic achievement,” Gill said.
“Now the girls have a season under their belt and we also have a lot of players that have played other sports at a high level coming across to the club, so I think we’ll have an even stronger side this year.”
Looking forward to this season, Blackburn is focused on movement of the football and skill development as its key areas of improvement for 2019.
“Our possession is good but it was our disposals that let us down last season, so that’s our priority for this year,” Gill said.
“The girls have really been working hard and putting in extra skills sessions outside of training, so their work ethic has been terrific.”
Gill is looking for more quality performances from Eliana Parratt and Ellie Cleland, who kicked 35 and 34 goals respectively for the club last season, as well as Kimberley Lo across the midfield.
Both Blackburn’s men’s and women’s teams are set to benefit from some short-term upheaval at Morton Park in the way of construction of new facilities, including new change-rooms and a gym, in time for the 2020 season.
No doubt they would like a new flag or two to go with it come September.
Blackburn begins its 2019 EFL season at home to Montrose on April 6, while the senior women’s fixture is to be released at a later date.
