34 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: Dylan Carmody
INCOMING Noble Park coach Steve Hughes says he is looking to “aim high” in his first season at the helm following 15 years away from Pat Wright Senior Oval.
The Bulls put a young side out on the park during the 2019 season, managing six wins for the year for a seventh-placed finish in Premier Division.
Hughes, who played his junior and senior footy at Noble Park, replaces long-serving dual premiership coach Mick Fogarty and arrives back to the club after serving the past five years as senior coach of Bonbeach in the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League.
The new mentor is looking up before the 2020 season gets underway.
“Our focus is just to give the players the best possible program we can, as coaches,” Hughes said.
“That means pre-season, strength and conditioning, as well as opportunities to learn through a really good footy department. That’s all we can really do between November to February.
“We are focused on giving them a really good pre-season and trying to help them get fit and flourish.
“I reckon it’s fair to say that I’ve always been really ambitious with goals, and I want to aim high, but we are going to give them the best footy program and see where it ends up.
“I think we’ve got a really good, young and talented group, and we’ve worked really hard through our pre-season, so I’m excited for the year ahead.”
The Bulls will have a more experienced outfit on the park this year, with the return of full-back Ryan Morrison after a year at fellow Premier Division club, Norwood.
Morrison will again be aligned with North Melbourne’s VFL outfit, following 15 appearances for the ‘Roos last year.
“I‘m having a fresh look at everyone at the moment, but I know ‘Morro’ (Morrison) is going to be significant for us with leadership, he plays that key role down back,” Hughes said.
“We can’t rely on him too much due to his VFL commitment, but he’s been great down at the club, coming to functions and has just been awesome around the group.”
Morrison is joined at the club by Anthony Vella, who crosses to the Bulls from Cranbourne in the AFL Outer East competition. Vella won Cranbourne’s 2016 best and fairest and played five VFL matches for the Casey Demons last season while also representing AFL Outer East at senior interleague level.
Despite losing youngster Bailey Lambert, who has joined Rowville, Hughes says that he is excited by his young group and named Tom Glen as one to watch for the season ahead.
“Tommy has been fantastic throughout the pre-season, he’s added layers to his leadership, and he uses the footy so well,” Hughes said.
“He’s a really talented footballer as well, all the talks we’ve had about our structures and that, Tommy gets it really well.
“He’s definitely one to look out for this year.”
Hughes expressed how thrilled he was to be back at the club where parents Wayne and Helen hold life membership, and the Bulls’ home ground – Pat Wright Senior Oval – is named after his maternal grandfather, Pat Wright senior.
“I absolutely love it mate,” he said.
“It is a bit of a time-warp for me, I’ve been driving through the streets of Noble Park, and it’s taking me back to 15 years ago, but I’m feeling good.
“It’s my home, it’s where I grew up – I’ve got a heap of family connections here, and I’ve played all my footy here.
“There’s some fantastic people around the footy club, it’s ran so well and the club is going in the right directions.
“It’s nice to be around a really professional environment again, and I am absolutely loving it.”
Noble Park kicks off its season against North Ringwood at Quambee Reserve on Saturday, April 4.