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By: Dylan Carmody
INCOMING Mulgrave coach Ryan Webster says consistency is the key to his side climbing the Division 2 ladder this season.
The Lions proved they could match it with the best last season, but unfortunately couldn’t get over the line in a few tight encounters leaving them sitting at 7th at the business end of the season.
It was a tough season at Mulgrave, winning only four games for the season, yet only went down to premier Mitcham and grand finalist Ringwood by five points apiece. It also managed to knock off finalist Boronia by 11 points.
The Lions will be looking to improve those results immensely under new coach Ryan Webster.
“We were able to go with the better teams last year, but we lost games that we shouldn’t have lost, and lost games that were close, which ultimately left us at the bottom end of the ladder,” Webster said.
“I think if we can get a bit more consistency in our game and playing a higher level of football for a longer period of time, that will help us win those closer games and get ourselves into the finals.”
Webster makes his way to the Lions after serving as the assistant to former Gold Coast Suns AFL coach, Guy McKenna, at VAFA club Beaumaris. He also has served as an assistant at the Sandringham Zebras and the Northern Blues in the VFL.
A former WAFL player from East Perth and East Fremantle, Webster believes this experience will prove the world of good for his side.
“I’m really looking forward to the season ahead, and the boys have absolutely bought into the plan that we are presenting,” Webster said.
“Since coming over from Beaumaris and having had experience at Sandringham and the Blues under some great coaches, I feel like that will definitely translate, and I am really looking forward to getting stuck into things.
“It’s all about the relationship with the players, and you can train them as hard as you want, but unless they are buying into our plan, then you’re not going to get anywhere.”
The Lions will be without 2019 Paul Edie medallist Jaxon Gervasoni, with the midfielder transferring to Premier Division club Doncaster over the off-season.
“It’s going to be important for us to replace Jaxon, and it is disappointing to lose a player of his quality, but in saying that, one player doesn’t really make a team,” Webster said.
“We’re pretty confident in the players that we have brought in, that they will be able to fill the role.
“The group is buying into the program that we have delivered this year, so I feel that the players who we have brought in will be able to do their roles for us.”
The Lions have managed to recruit Matt Homfray from Beaconsfield (AFL Outer East), 2019 Doveton Eagles premiership player and Southern FNL Division 2 Team of the Year member Nick Beer, as well as Dane Gallagher and Mitch Jacobson from top-flight club Rowville, all of whom Webster is confident will fill the gap that Gervasoni leaves.
The former Frankston-listed utility Homfray returns to the EFNL after previous stints with Rowville and Noble Park across 2015-17, after playing 17 matches for the Dandenong Stingrays in the NAB League in 2014.
Midfielder Beer reacquaints with the EFNL after last playing with the Glen Waverley Hawks in 2015, while Gallagher and Jacobson will be looking for more senior opportunities this season after playing 20 and 18 reserve-grade games respectively for the Hawks in 2019.
“I think adding these boys in, along with the quality of the boys that we already have, we should manage to be a more consistent football team for this year and we have trained the players really hard throughout the pre-season,” Webster said.
Mulgrave begins its season when it hosts Boronia on Saturday, April 4.