By Josh Ward.
There’s a sense of hunger amongst the Eagles senior men’s side heading into 2025 whilst its women will look to rebound in a new division this season.
Beaconsfield made it back-to-back Division 1 finals appearances last year, this time winning their first two senior EFNL finals and falling just eight points short of making the Grand Final.
Mick Fogarty returns for a fifth year as the Eagles head coach, saying the group is tracking the right way heading into season 2025.
“We’re all hungry and last year gave us a real taste of what if and how close you can get,” Fogarty said.
“Our preseason’s been strong, we’ve recruited nicely (and) we’re really looking forward to what the season gives us.”
Among their recruits includes the returning Jake Aarts who last pulled on the Eagles guernsey in 2017.
Since then he went on to play 42 games with Richmond between 2019 and 2022 whilst he also won a premiership, league B&F and Grand Final Best on Ground with Mornington Peninsula club Dromana.
Fogarty says that it’s not only his training standards that have helped improve the group, but also his life skills
“It’s enormous (his signing), and that’s an understatement. It’s not just what he can bring out on gameday, it’s also all his off field stuff, his training habits and the standards he sets, which is massive for our young group.”
Ex-Rowville and Noble Park midfielder Ali Zijai has also signed, with Fogarty impressed by his leadership skills.
“He’s played Premier Division, he’s played in a grand final with Rowville, he carries a lot of leadership qualities and he’s been terrific in his ability to teach and give our young midfielders an opportunity to learn off him.”
18-year-old Cooper Brown has also joined along with Frankston-listed ruck Denver Lund who’s joined from now divisional rival Norwood.
“Brown spent the preseason with Frankston and he only got cut (recently) so that shows you how close to nearly making a strong list…
“We’ve also picked up Travis Stewart from Crib Point, he’s a terrific get for us. He’s little known but making a big impression at training, he gives us a bit more height too.”
The Eagles have also been able to retain majority of its list as well as VFL-listed players such as Kade De La Rue and Kobe Shipp, with the former also set to play for Frankston this year.
Among its retained list that looks set to have much bigger season’s includes Josh Mounter and Michael Cameron, with Mounter playing full-time this year after being on Frankston’s list last year.
“(Josh) is really ready to go and Michael’s another one who’s been hit by injury, particularly last year, and he’s fit and firing and ready for a big year.”
Some of its Under 19s from last year could also be set to make an impact at senior level too, including league and club B&F winner Marley Appleyard.
“(Appleyard) is one to watch, I’ve got no doubt he’s going to play senior footy this year. Jamie Roberts is another one who’s training strongly and Ethan Winterton, he’s a tall defender that’s also training well.”
And whilst it looks set to be an even division this season, Fogarty believes that if they can manage their injuries well they can continue their upward trajectory of recent years.
“If we can get it all together and qualify, September we start again. Whether (we qualify) fifth, second, who knows, but we’ve just got to qualify and go from there.
“And we’re hoping that we can keep improving our ladder position.”
Beaconsfield kicks off its season at Holm Park Reserve with a matchup against North Ringwood.
Meanwhile the Eagles women’s side will enter this season in a new division following a winless season in Division 1 last year.
Glen Davies has stepped into the role of senior coach having been a senior assistant last year with the women’s side, saying that whilst there’s been some change in the side it’s been a positive offseason for the program.
“We’re hoping that dropping down to Division 2 and gaining a few girls back we might be where we need to be,” Davies said.
Among the players coming back to the club is Alari Georgia Malkoun who returns after kicking 49 goals in 15 matches last season for division and local rivals Berwick.
“That was an area we really struggled in last year. We had midfielders but they can’t be everywhere.
“We just didn’t have that focal point up forward that could do the job for us and this year with Alari back we feel that’s going to be a position we’re a lot stronger in.”
Former junior Abbey Dibben has also returned to footy having last played in 2023 with the Dandenong Stingrays.
“She looks good..Abbey is a young, fast midfielder and runner which is going to be good for us.
“And there’s been some natural improvement too from all the other girls. They’ve gotten fitter, we’ve been training ever since mid to early November two nights a week and putting in some Saturday mornings as well.
“Hopefully that’ll pay off and we’ll get to show a bit (in Division 2).
Among the retained list that looks set for big season’s includes Alyssa La Rocca and Natalie Eve Taylor.
“All of them have shown massive improvement…there are a couple of them that have been very good on the track and shown really good leadership.”
It’s set to be an unknown for the Eagles as they head into Division 2, with Blackburn being the only side in that division they’ve faced since joining the EFNL.
And with some change afoot, Davies main objective is to get the Eagles back onto the winners list.
“We don’t know how far we can go, we don’t know what the improvement’s going to be like, we think it’s going to be strong, but we’ll just wait and see.”
Beaconsfield has the bye in the opening round of its campaign before facing preliminary finalist Waverley Blues in their first game of the season at Holm Park.