By Christopher Kourtis.
Mulgrave will look to go one step further and play in a Grand Final in 2025 after a fantastic 2024 season.
Marred by injuries late in the home-and-away season, Mulgrave still managed to make a strong finals push before bowing out in the Preliminary Final.
Senior coach Matt Richards will be at the helm for another season, looking to right the previous season’s wrongs.
“We were pretty unlucky coming into our finals series with some key players getting injured,” said Richards.
“We felt we had the right list to go really deep… we think we’re pretty close”.
Richards is just one of many at Mulgrave Reserve who are optimistic that this side has what it takes to go all the way.
“It’s a pretty even comp,” said Richards. “We feel we know what’s needed to win at our level and we want to get the boys all playing the right way to do that”.
The Lions will have to do so in the absence of Lin Jong, as the ex-AFL player departs the club after a season which saw him voted in the Team of the Year, whilst also winning the club Best and Fairest and finishing runner-up in the league Best and Fairest.
Richards’ side is not short of leadership, however, with EFNL Life Member and 300 gamer Adam Booth and player/assistant coach Fletcher Roberts looking to fill the gaps that Jong has left both on and off the field.
“We have learnt a lot off what [Jong] implemented in our midfield last year,” said Richards. “[Fletcher Roberts] has really stood up to help me now in the planning of things… he’s got so much experience”.
Among those to recommit to another season at Mulgrave Reserve is Division Two Team of the Year player and 2025 captain Connor Tilyard. He will be joined by U19.5 league Best and Fairest winner Noah Smith.
It's also set to be a special year at Mulgrave with the club celebrating it's centenary year in 2025.
An exciting time for the club, not only for the current list that will represent Mulgrave in it's 100th year, but also for it's past players and members.
Mulgrave will look to kickstart their title charge against Ringwood at Jubilee Park. The Lions won both meetings against the Redbacks last season.