By Blake Tennant.
It will be a new chapter down at the Heights Reserve this year with Ben Wheat announced as the club’s next Senior Men’s Coach.
Wheat takes over the role from Brett Lavars who stepped down at the end of last season after making a Grand Final appearance in 2022.
Wheat is no stranger at Heights Reserve; he served as an assistant coach from 2022-2023 before moving to Montrose as an assistant.
“It was a really professional approach on why I came back here, it felt right, I’m stoked to go back where it all started in my coaching career.”
The Mustangs have lost some key players this upcoming season with dual Team of the Year members, Austin Smith and Ryley Monkhorst returning to their respective clubs this year. Trent Georgiou has also retired after a decorated career.
Wheat expects to push strong standards and to improve as a whole club.
Reigning Mooroolbark Best and Fairest winner and club captain, Kane Noonan, has had a superb pre-season and is in great shape heading into the season.
Mustangs star Cayden Maki was also noted by Wheat for his work on the training track.
“He’s in the best shape I’ve seen from him, he looks primed to have a big year ahead.”
A couple of key recruits have come to the club with Woori Yallock duo Jak Ryan & Josh Neal joining the Mustangs as well as Blackburn duo Connor Riley and Ethan Wright. Robbie Swan has also come across from Surrey Park.
“Jak Ryan has built high expectations for himself and is really training the house down,” Wheat said.
Mooroolbark opens their 2025 season campaign against Norwood at Mullum Mullum Reserve on April 5th.
After a successful two seasons, winning back-to-back premierships in Divisions 3 & 4, Mooroolbark’s Senior Women’s side will move into Division Two. Under head coach Keryn Ralph, the side is excited to see what they can achieve after two dominant seasons.
Ralph’s expectations for the season ahead are to compete and make yet another finals series.
“The junior girls who have played from U10’s up has also been big for the club's growth, seeing girls like Maddison Gow, Molly Batten and Ami Leech playing senior women’s footy is great to see,”
“Seeing the junior girls coming into the senior women's competition is amazing.”
It will be a big jump for the Mustangs as they progress through to a new division.
Ralph said that “The core midfield group from this comp is standard on what we need to do,”
“The skills from what we learnt last year to this year have to improve to be a contending team again.”
The players that have had big pre-seasons include the Haberfield sisters (Sarah & Ruby)
“They are competitive beasts and are really good to coach and they learn really well off each other,” Ralph said.
“Sarah is playing this year after a long time playing basketball.”
Tayja Maki is another player who had a big season last year for the Mustangs and is currently having a big preseason for the club.