By David Nagel
Club: Beaconsfield
2022: 6-12 (7th). Eastern Football Netball League Division 1
Head coach: Mick Fogarty.
Assistant Coaches: Dean Ellis (Forwards), Brent Mounter (Defence), Craig Mulcock (Midfield).
Captain: Jake Bowd.
Ins: Brandon White (Devon Meadows – Half Back/Mid), Darren Minchington (De La Salle – Mid/Forward), Josh Mounter (Sturt – Half Back/Mid), Ethan Harris (U19 – Wing), Cory brown (U19 – Forward).
Outs: Robbie McMillan (Travel), Tanner Stanton (Hampton Park), Joel Smith (Gembrook-Cockatoo), Scott Triffitt (Retired), Tyson Robinson (Catani), Declan Everett (Doncaster).
10 to watch: Brandon White, Jake Bowd, Hayden Brough, Sam Merrick, Patrick Gerdan, Declan Curran, Jafar Ocaa, Sam Mackinder, Darren Michington, Josh Mounter.
Home Ground: Holm Park Reserve.
Beaconsfield is looking to build on a steady but unspectacular start to its life in Eastern Football Netball League Division 1.
The Eagles, under highly-regarded coach Mick Fogarty, seemed to have found the perfect fit, finishing seventh last year with six wins from 18 outings.
But its percentage of 98.99 gives a clearer picture of just how competitive the Eagles were after making the move from the Outer East Premier Division.
It just feels right…like the Eagles really belong!
There’s plenty of water to go under the bridge…there always is during a footy season, but you would expect the Eagles to naturally improve this year.
A portion of that improvement will happen organically, with a full season in a new competition under their belt, but the inclusion of class acts in Brandon White and Darren Minchington is an exciting prospect for Fogarty.
It’s a homecoming for White, a local product returning to the club after a season with Devon
Meadows in 2022, in the hopes of recapturing the magic of the 2014 premiership he played in as a teenager at Beaconsfield.
“To have Brandon back is terrific get for our footy club,” Fogarty said.
“We obviously missed him last year but he’ll make an enormous difference to us and the way we’ll be able to set the ground up.”
Minchington is also a valuable acquisition, with the Eagles matching opposition midfields on the outside last year, but lacking consistent grunt at the stoppages.
The bigger bodied midfields in Eastern were a concern that Fogarty identified early.
“It’s just strength around the footy,” Fogarty said.
“We got exposed by the opposition’s bigger bodies and we’ve added those two (Minchington and White).
“They’ve come from the highest level so they’ve already ingrained good training habits, standards, and culture and leadership.”
To be competitive the Eagles need a wider spread of goal-kickers, with Matt Johnson (54), Josh Smith (22) and Hayden Brough (20) the only forwards to edge out of single-figures last year.
Players to keep an eye on this year include Sam Merrick, Sam Mackinder and Declan Curran, young and up-and-coming types that Fogarty can see having great success at Beaconsfield.
“The development of our kids coming up and the recruitment we had in the off season is really exciting,” he said.
“I can see us hopefully winning more games than last year and giving us a chance to play finals.
“We have got a lot more depth in the midfield and a lot more strength around the contest.”
It’s looking like a very competitive season from the team from Holm Park Reserve.
Fixture:
Round 1: Saturday 1 April v Mitcham (Away)
Round 2: Saturday 15 April v Bayswater (Home)
Round 3: Saturday 22 April v Croydon (Away)
Round 4: Saturday 29 April v South Belgrave (Home)
Round 5: Saturday 6 May v Mooroolbark (Away)
Round 6: Saturday 13 May v Wantirna South (Home)
Round 7: Saturday 20 May v Montrose (Home)
Round 8: Saturday 27 May v North Ringwood (Away)
Round 9: Saturday 3 June v Lilydale (Home)
Round 10: Saturday 17 June v Mitcham (Home)
Round 11: Saturday 24 June v Bayswater (Away)
Round 12: Saturday 1 July v Croydon (Home)
Round 13: Saturday 8 July v South Belgrave (Away)
Round 14: Saturday 15 July v Mooroolbark (Home)
Round 15: Saturday 22 July v Wantirna South (Away)
Round 16: Saturday 29 July v Montrose (Away)
Round 17: Saturday 5 August v North Ringwood (Home)
Round 18: Saturday 12 August v Lilydale (Away)
