By David Nagel
The enduring long game was always taking precedence over short-term satisfaction when Beaconsfield coach Mick Fogarty led the club into its first season of Eastern Division One this year.
The dual premiership coach at both ROC and Noble Park took over the reins at Holm Park Reserve from Leigh McQuillen at the end of 2019…and it’s been a roller-coaster ride – that Fogarty couldn’t have imagined – ever since.
Season 2020 was wiped out due to Covid, while just eight games were played in AFL Outer East Premier Division in 2021.
The Eagles were undefeated, two-and-a-half games clear of their nearest opponent – Cranbourne – when Covid once again caused a halt to play.
After two years at the helm, Fogarty had coached just eight games of football.
Season 2022 then provided some further unique challenges, with Beaconsfield moving from the top-heavy Outer East competition to the more evenly-balanced and highly-competitive weekly Eastern Division One.
And the club made that already daunting transition without four of its key playmakers, with Nick Battle, Jamie Plumridge and Brandon White heading to Devon Meadows, while 2019 best and fairest winner Sean Dwyer returned to his junior club Lang Lang.
Fast-forward 16 rounds and Eastern Division One has delivered on all of its promises, with the Eagles being highly-competitive, with a percentage of 98, despite winning just five games this season.
But Fogarty, who has now coached just 24 games across three seasons, has seen enough promise to recommit to the Eagles for what he believes will be an exciting 2023 campaign.
With only one player, Sam Merrick, playing in all 24 of those games, and 14 fresh faces taking to the field this year, Fogarty is still relatively in the infancy of his coaching journey at Holm Park.
The experienced coach is excited by what lays ahead, but totally understands why some coaches, such as revered mentors Beau Vernon (Phillip Island) and Ben Soumilas (Inverloch-Kongwak), are taking a break from coaching at the end of the year.
“I can’t speak for those guys, but the work and preparation that coaches have done, for no apparent reward, in respect of playing games, has been tough, we just haven’t been out on the park,” Fogarty said.
“It’s certainly been difficult and something we all didn’t expect, to finish 2019 the way we did, to basically not play football for two seasons.
“It’s unprecedented, and I think people’s perspective on life has changed quite a bit.
“Let’s hope we get back to some sort of normality over the next couple of years.”
Despite the stop-start nature of his tenure, that has seen him witness 20 games from just 10 of his players, Fogarty is delighted with his now-familiar surroundings.
“I’m very lucky and since I stepped foot into Beaconsfield everyone has been so good to me in all aspects of coaching,” he said.
“It was a no-brainer for me to go again next year and I’m very thankful that the club sees me as the right guy to take it through the journey.
“First year in Eastern footy, it’s a really good comp and a competition where we feel the club will move forward over the years.
“It was a pretty easy decision, once the club came to me, and I just can’t wait to finish this year off positively and then get stuck in again next year.”
Having now assessed all opposition, in a new competition, Fogarty said a solid game plan may need some minor tweaking, but the introduction of some new talent – to fill specific roles – was a must if the Eagles are to begin an upward curve.
Defending, attacking, and winning neutral ball…the three basic principles of football will never go out of fashion.
“Game plan, yeah, it’s a pretty simple game isn’t, we all roll around the three aspects of football, and make adaptions around those,” Fogarty said.
“We’ve had to adapt in some games this year, like Mooroolbark and East Ringwood, we rolled extra numbers around the contest, quite simply because we haven’t been winning football at stoppage.
“Then how do we move it forward from our back half to our forward half when we do get it…the balance is fascinating isn’t it.”
But additional talent, that is a priority.
“I’m really happy with our group but we’ve been exposed in key areas at times and need some players to fill roles, there’s no doubt about that,” Fogarty said.
“We need a key defender and some really good strong mids, and if we get that, combined with the undergrowth coming through…we’re going to be good.
“I’m really confident that the young kids we’ve got at the club are going to be super players of Eastern footy.”
Beaconsfield last two games of the year are against Mitcham, away, before a home-ground finish against Lilydale on August 13.
