24 DAYS TO GO | EFNL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2020 season with the #InFocus2020 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
By: Davis Harrigan
NEW season, new momentum, new investments.
Ferntree Gully heads into the 2020 season not only with a fresh approach under incoming (and former assistant) coach Brent Kiker, but ensuring the club’s connections are as strong as ever.
Kiker takes the reins from Peter Farrell, who took Ferntree Gully to its first finals series since lifting the Division 4 premiership in 2016.
With two years working with and alongside the list, there is good knowledge and understanding of who’s donned the Eagles jumpers of late, and Kiker credited Farrell for the quality of the players at the club.
“Pete was with the club for the five years, and he’s left the club and the list in a really good state, so I’ve inherited a pretty good list,” Kiker said.
“Moving forward, the footy department set out to rejuvenate the list, and I think we’ve achieved that; I (also) think it definitely helps having that grounding and knowledge of the players, but I’m coming in with a fresh approach, and they’ll all get an equal opportunity, but it takes a good season to know your players well.”
The Eagles have scored and attracted a host of recruits, with Bayswater premiership forward Wayne McInerney perhaps the biggest name with over 350 career goals.
“He’s (McInerney) started really well in his leadership and on-ground status, he’s been fantastic and he’ll be really good up forward,” Kiker said.
“We’ve picked up Mathew Camera as well from Bayswater as a half-black flank and he uses it really well; we’ve got Luke Sproules from Belgrave, a hard-at-it on-baller; Lewis Kreiger from Chelsea who uses it really well, and Alex Bull from Croydon.”
Shaun Wilson from Palm Beach Football Club (Queensland) rounds out the list.
Kiker also highlighted the club’s growth from within, where some of the Eagles juniors may be picked for senior football during the year.
“We’ve got a really strong group of talented under-17s coming through, and we’d expect that at least a few will play senior football at same stage,” he said.
“That brings in some fresh youth and legs as well as improvement from within will put us in good stead.”
Philosophy is everything at this time of the year when it comes to preparation.
Kiker is keen to see where the current feeling and work that’s been put in goes during the season, citing a strong turnout as just one important measure for the club.
“What you can go on at this stage of the year is whether you get good numbers, and whether they’re buying in, and it’s been awesome,” he said.
“The buy-in and numbers have been great and there’s been a real buzz about the place. Once you get into the season, you know where you’re at, but at this stage, I couldn’t be happier.”
The Eagles coaching ranks have been undoubtedly strengthened by the addition and experience of Max Gasparroni, formerly of Port Melbourne and a 2000s Team of the Decade member at Wantirna South.
Kiker is also keen to continue working with his cohort in the same manner, one on one, as a “players’ coach”.
“Max has come in as a senior assistant, and played for Port Melbourne and a few other clubs; he’s really good and is my right hand man,” Kiker said.
“He’s settled in really and got along with the players straightaway; but as far as me, I’m definitely a players’ coach and like working with players one-on-one where I can, trying to work on their strengths. Their room for improvement will just get better, and if they’re playing confident, it will go towards their wins during the year.”
Competition heats up in Division 3 with Scoresby, Fairpark and East Burwood all coming in, and there is a belief of balance between all teams.
“The two teams coming up from fourth division look like they’re coming in with momentum, and with South Belgrave gone, there wasn’t much between a lot of sides last year,” Kiker said.
Meanwhile, new women’s coach Tim Cavanagh has also had a fortunate advantage, being part of last year’s coaching group as an assistant.
Now, that role gets bigger, and Cavanagh is looking forward to what lies ahead.
“We have a fair few new players into the side, but all those returning I know really well,” he said.
“As an assistant I was able to work in smaller groups or one-on-one, and built some great relationships last year to continue with this season.”
Cavanagh was able to glean from outgoing coach Peter Weston and saw the building blocks and key development in the team’s first year, and believes the club can continue to head towards bigger and better things; being a part of it allows for a smoother transition into the senior coaching role.
“The foundation is definitely there to build on, and having been a part of that, learning from someone else, and being a new side, I was able to see what works and what doesn’t and come add some new things. It definitely makes it easier,” Cavanagh said.
“There’s no old or new players divide, it’s one integrated team and they’ve formed the bonds pretty early on.”
At least half of those donning Eagles jumpers this year have prior experience from other clubs, but a November start to training has given the team time to form relationships and create a harmonious team.
“We have Joan Dekker, Rachael Clarke, sisters Ashleigh and Shan Hilder and Alex Gunn (all from AFL Outer East), all coming from the same side,” Cavanagh said.
“We also have Jasmine McNair (Vermont) who’s played footy for a long-time and looks to be one of our most exciting players this year.”
The Eagles made it to the finals in their first year, and will make the leap into Division 1 for 2020, but overall, Cavanagh points to a better competition and higher standard as yet another element to developing a list that includes plenty of new names.
Even with many playing competitive football for the first time, the drive and passion was still evident on-field.
“We were a new side and a lot of our girls were learning the game for the first time, but the effort was always there, and they did buy in,” Cavanagh said.
“We’ve stepped up to a higher competition, we’re playing all established sides but we’re really excited as it gives them a chance to play better competition week in, week out, and with the list we’ve got, we’re absolutely aiming to play finals again and will go as far as we can.”
Ferntree Gully begins its season away to Scoresby on Saturday, April 4, while the women’s fixtures are set to be released at a later date.