By Davis Harrigan.
It’s all systems go down at Morton Park, as Blackburn look to put power behind their 2025 campaign, and take it to Premier Division. After just missing finals in 2024, there’s no doubt the Burners are ready to go again.
Coming up against Balwyn on Good Friday in one of the EFNL’s marquee games to start the season is never an easy task, but the Panthers, coached by club stalwart Anthony Fagan, are ready for what’s required.
“We are very privileged as a footy club to be involved. It’s great to have Good Friday back on the calendar this year, and we’re playing the reigning premiers first up, so it’s going to be a big challenge for us. We played them in round 18 last year, and they’re a really good, strong team who’ve got some experienced guys,” Fagan said.
“We’ve got to make sure our entire list and squad is well prepared for the challenge against Balwyn, and we’ll be ready to go come round one.”
Blackburn will be heavily bolstered by having retained a major part of last years playing list, setting the foundations for something new - and something significant.
“The big focus for us, first and foremost, is we wanted to make sure we kept our core list together, which we’ve done. That’s been really important, there was a big turnover from ’23 to ’24, and our retention from the senior group has been really strong,” Fagan said.
A whole host of recruits are coming back to inject the red and black with a new fire, including players with AFL experience that will be a welcome return.
“Ryley Stoddart comes back to the footy club, a Blackburn junior. Ryley’s been a captain at VFL level, and his experience is playing largely in state competitions, but also being in the AFL system will be invaluable as well,” Fagan said.
“Similar with Dan McKenzie, coming from St. Kilda, he spent a year at Port Melbourne, and was involved in the premiership with the AFLW at North Melbourne, so those guys coming in will be really good for us.
“We’ve added Ben Worm, who comes in from Geelong. Ben will play across half-back and through the midfield, we’re excited to see what he can do. Jackson Carmody also comes from Geelong, is a small forward, he’s a goal kicker, he’s got great skill, and he’s had a terrific pre-season. Liam Malone comes across from Heathmont as well, so that’s a big in for us too.”
Kade Answerth steps up into the captains seat, taking over from Patrick Lawlor, who has skippered the side over the past three seasons. Fagan described it as an “easy choice” appointing Answerth, who joined Blackburn in 2023 after playing over 100 games in the VFL.
The standard of the EFNL’s Premier Division have called for an increasing level of motivation and commitment, but Fagan is confident what was put in place in 2024 will easily transition into the new season.
“The foundations and the way we want to play fundamentally stay the same, with a few tweaks and personnel adjustments, making sure we continue to evolve our game,” Fagan said.
“Last year, we significantly improved the way we were able to defend the ground. We want to be a really hard team to score against, that allows us to turn the ball over in areas of the ground, where we can then go back and score.”
Fagan commented that Blackburn was never out of the fight in 2024, with no game lost by more than four goals. There is still plenty of room for improvement, with staying in the contest highlighted as a big factor being worked on for 2025.
“We got outplayed in a couple of those games, for us it was about making sure we could execute for longer in games. We need to become a consistent four-quarter team, if we want to be one of the best sides in the competition.”
“We’ve tried to address some areas in the off season, making sure that we can compete, and sustain our level of footy against the best teams.”
With no mid-season bye to break up the games, the pre-season has a focus on getting the players ready for the grind ahead, especially with a large run of games to finish the campaign.
“It’s going to be a challenge, particularly in the back half of this year, because there’s 11 straight weeks leading into the finals, and no bye. We’ll have to get creative with our program to make sure we keep our guys fresh, both physically and mentally,” Fagan said.
With the new season, dawns a new rival in Mitcham, having been promoted after back-to-back Division 1 premierships. There’s already quite a decent buzz around Blackburn and is an exciting challenge.
“I’ve never had any experience playing or coaching against Mitcham, so that’ll be a learning curve for them. We’ll get an opportunity to study them when the time comes, but I’m looking forward to the rivalry. There’s already been some talk of that around the footy club and what that looks like.”’
Blackburn’s club culture emphasises being a destination where people will want to stay and bring in the best people. Fagan highlighted just how evident that was on a recent personal note, showcasing it’s not just on-field when the side comes together.
“It’s one of the things we pride ourselves on as a footy club, and our program is attracting and retaining good people, and continuing to develop good people from within,” he said.
“I got married earlier this year, and there were 17 of my teammates at the wedding. There’s been a common theme with guys we’ve played with, as it is with a lot of clubs, the mateship, the camaraderie, the connections you’re able to build within the club are so important.”
“Ultimately, we just want to create an environment where our players feel like they can be themselves and they really enjoy their time here at the footy club, and that leads them to playing good footy as well.”
The success of East Ringwood is where Fagan would love the club to be, emphasising the pathway the club and sides are taking in an ambition to replicate the Roos in 2024.
“East Ringwood set the benchmark for us having three teams competing on Grand Final day, that’s what we’re striving to be, and we’re on the journey. We want to become the best club in the EFNL. You’ve got to be a really good strong contest team, and you’ve got to be really sound defensively.”
The feeling is that 2025 is starting off on the right foot, but the competition is set to heat up fast, meaning Blackburn are going to need to bring their best footy ever round. Fagan and the Panthers are hungry for points, but know they can’t rest on their laurels.
“I have no doubt we’re in a far better spot than this time last year, but the competition is going to get better as well, so we’re under no illusion that it’s really even across the board, you have to make sure that you turn up and you perform week in week out, otherwise you’re not going to get the four points.”
The challengers ready to make a statement
Blackburn women’s coach Luke Paramanathan was vibrant on the prospects of his side playing in Division 2 in 2025. Much like the senior side, the women were also on the verge of finals last year, giving rise to a new motivation ahead of this season.
Luke has been hard at work creating an environment for the team to excel. There’s a lot of elements involved, but the most important of those has been the club connection and the number of players laying down a significant foundation.
“When I first came back to Blackburn, into the senior women’s program in 2023, we probably had just over 20 players. Now I’ve got 36 players on the list, we have U/18s coming in through our ranks, and we’re developing a really strong relationship with the juniors,” Paramanathan said.
“It’s now a competition for spots, you have to earn your way into it. A little comes back to them, as players and individuals, about what they’re doing to put their best foot forward. It does give me a lot more flexibility, but I’m more excited for the new ideas and things they can bring.”
The list this year brings in an international recruit, along with several familiar names and young players bursting through the ranks. Excitement is palpable around what’s building overall.
“We’ve got people like Cara Reilly, who’s coming through and is arguably going to be the best ruck in the competition, she’s an absolute star, and Lucy Ongaro, a former Eastern Ranges full forward, who can add to the team,” Paramanathan said.
“Players are returning from injury like Emma Nilsson and Amelia Inston. “Mils” didn’t play the entire year due to a knee injury, and has come in fresh as anything, hasn’t missed a beat, and is going to add so much to our team. Emma missed the majority of the season with an ankle injury, and with her coming back into the side, you can see the difference it made to our team.
“I’ve also been really impressed with players who are new to footy; someone for example is Kalley Tukaokao, who’s a New Zealander, played a lot of netball at a high level, and has taken a really strong interest to football. Her professionalism and understanding of how to prepare as an athlete has been an exemplary example for our group,” he said.
“It’s been really exciting with some of these new players, and I think a recruit that’s going to have such a big impact is picking up Shae Dale from Kilsyth, coming across as an assistant coach as well. With her experience at senior level, at VFLW level, she’s taken our group to the next level, and mentoring them all.”
Paramanathan likes to give freedom over to the players when it comes to preparation, but knows he won’t always get an ideal scenario, and is striving to give everyone a chance, and be clear on feedback within the team.
“I get them to set the goals and expectations, and what they want it to look like, and sometimes it’s owning stuff that I can’t control. Having a big squad is amazing, but in a perfect world I might have 16 players missing every week, and that is a tough sell for them,” he said.
“All I can do is promise to be as consistent as I can with selection, around things and my work or feedback, making sure they have clarity on why they’re missing out on selection, here’s what I want you to work on, and things like that.”
Making sure everyone’s integrated - especially those who might not be in the top group of players - is another critical aspect to not lose sight of.
“I know as a coach, it’s that “bottom six players” that really make a difference in your gameday training. If your bottom six are pushing hard and doing all the right things, it’s a good amount of competitive pressure on those more experienced bodies and players,” Paramanathan said.
Finals for 2025 are a realistic prospect - especially after 2024 left the Burners champing at the bit to be one of the last sides playing for premiership glory. Paramanathan is optimistic previous seasons will be a motivation factor.”
“I look at it and say we should’ve made finals. We had a draw against Waverley Blues which could’ve gone our way, lost by under a kick to Berwick at home, we lost by under a goal to Kilsyth. There’s every reason we could’ve made it, that was probably on us,” he said.
“This year, we’re going for it, there’s no reason we can’t. What made me understand that this group is ready, is that when I first came to the club as an assistant, we went to watch the finals, and the group was disappointed they didn’t make it, but they didn’t care too much.
“Last year, we went to the Waverley v Montrose prelim, and my group was frustrated, and speaking to them they said should we should be out there. There was a sense they realised they had missed an opportunity.”
“I’ve used that as a driving force for the group, and it’s now time to put that best foot forward. We’ve really set a clear goal, and my group, myself and the club have a clear idea that we’re going to be a very competitive side come the finals series.”
It isn’t entirely about the on-field results - there’s a real determination to bond as a team, and create an environment that is both successful and attracts the right people, both now and long term.
“If I had to pick one clear thing, one of our goals we set is we want to be a destination club for senior womens football. We really want players coming to Blackburn because they know how well we run things,” Paramanathan said.
“My one focus is really honing our values, our expectations, and the things we believe in as a group. Making sure that we own that, the on-field side takes care of itself if you have a really strong culture that the group believes in, and if you have a strong connection with one another.”
“If you have all of the playing group all buying into the same ideas, that essentially is what is going to make us a really good program. The results, the flags, everything else you could want will come from that.”
After the teams recent camps and training sessions, there is a growing excitement that this team is ready to bring friendship and connection onto the field, as more than just players donning a jumper.
“A lot of them would say it’s the friends they make at the club, some of them will be friends forever. I had a group of new players who had never connected fully, and all of them connected on camp. It was amazing to see them all have a genuine connection between each other,” Paramanathan said.
“There is definitely a shared passion for what this could be, and for them, it’s turning that passion to football and really doing something special, and they get to be a part of that. It’s joining together and putting the work in.”
Blackburn start their campaign against Berwick at home on April 12th, with an ANZAC round bye before hosting Beaconsfield in round 3.