By Matt Fotia
Despite missing finals for a fourth consecutive year, Norwood made big strides in 2019 with some regeneration of their list and key wins against quality opposition.
The 2014 Division One Premiers entered 2019 riding a new wave of hope following the appointment of ex Balwyn coach and former Western Bulldog and Brisbane Lion Marty Pask.
Pask, who took Balwyn to the finals in his last senior coaching role, came in with a focus of setting up the Wooders for long term success both on and off the field and put in place some long term, medium term and short term goals.
Despite falling short of finals once again he and the club were content with their progress.
“Some of our short term goals were around being able to beat teams that were above us to the ladder, I believe we hadn’t beaten a top five side in two years (prior to 2019), so to be able to do that (wins against Rowville, South Croydon and Blackburn) was really pleasing because it gave us a sense of belief that we were able to play football that matched it with teams at the top end,”
“Even Vermont at home we were around the mark for the first half and even though they got away from us in the second half there were a lot of pleasing signs.”
Finals are always the aim at Mullum Mullum, but Pask was also wary that the Norsemen’s list was beginning to age and set about drip feeding some youth into the starting 22 in 2019.
He says that their experience of not just playing Premier Division football, but winning games at the level will hold Norwood in good stead for the foreseeable future.
“In the last 12-18 months we’ve seen guys who were permanent fixtures in the Norwood side that are no longer playing with us or spent time out of the side – guys like Stuart Hill, David Johnson, Matthew Aver and Dean Poynton,”
“I wanted to make a conscious effort to evolve, look forward and bring the right guys in that were going to be the next players for the Norwood Football Club – and I think we did that this year with guys like Daniel Potts and alike who got some real opportunity,”
“Those older guys understood the direction we were going as a footy club and the way they made other guys a priority was just fantastic because everyone appreciates that you need to develop your own – it’s not as simple as going out and shopping.”
With season 2020 still in limbo clubs are currently faced with the new challenge of keeping their communities engaged and healthy without the constant outlet of Saturday afternoon football.
Pask is confident that Norwood will come through the other side, such is their strength of community.
“I’ve been involved in senior football since I was 16 years old, I’ve seen a lot of football clubs and the football club that we are and what we’ve got in terms of support, volunteers and so on is never lost on me, it’s never lost on the playing group,”
“I’ve got no doubt that there are people right now who are hurting that they can’t play football, but there are bigger things at play in life right now and as I said that to the guys before went on this break,”
“Right now I’d rather see everybody safe and healthy and their families getting their support whatever that means, they’re the most important things right now.”
He also believes that this forced break from football due to public health concerns will give the entire football community some added perspective when we do eventual get to cross that white line.
“One thing this has taught me – and I’m guilty of it as well – is that we can all get caught up too much in the things that just don’t matter,”
“A lot of football clubs now are going to need support, they’re going to need their players, their coaches, their communities to appreciate the fact that potentially the way local football was played, won’t be the way it’s played again,”
“I think that the biggest lesson I’ve learnt is to ensure that you don’t take the opportunities to play in a really good community football league like this for granted,”
“So when we do get back playing, it has got to be prioritised around making sure clubs survive and that people come together to enjoy it and that we compete the right way.”