By Marcus Uhe
Club: Berwick Springs
2022: 11-6-1 (3rd). Lost to Gembrook Cockatoo in a Outer East Football Netball League Division One preliminary final.
Head coach: Rodney Benstead.
Captain: Brodie Worland.
Coaching panel: Hayden Stagg, Dyson Morris, Chris Johnson, James Makrodimitris.
Ins: Jayden Bubb (Beaconsfield), Hayden Stagg (Narre Warren), Chris Johnson (Cora Lynn), Josh Mackenzie (Cora Lynn).
Outs: Matthew Collett (Keysborough), Jack Cornish (Noble Park), Dean Waterstone (Kangaroo Flat), Ryan Ladd (Lyndale).
10 to watch: Tom Nelson, Riley Hillman, Chris Johnson, Hayden Stagg, Brodie Worland, Jarryd Hocking, Jayden Bubb, Daniel Ousley, Harry Paul, Kayden Buselli.
Home ground: Mick Morland Reserve
There’s plenty to like about Berwick Springs in 2023.
Still newcomers to the competition, their first full season in the club’s history put everyone on notice, storming their way into a preliminary final under the guidance of Rod Benstead.
Tom Nelson and Riley Hillman are back as keys at opposite ends of the ground, and they’ll welcome some serious additions to the side in the form of a number of quality recruits.
2022 Narre Warren premiership player Hayden Stagg, and Cora Lynn midfielder Chris Johnson, will bring leadership and senior experience to the side still establishing their identity, brand and culture, and will be fed by Jayden Bubb in the ruck.
“We just thought we lacked that 25-30 (years-old) age group of experience in big games,” Benstead said of his recruits.
“That’s what we identified and that’s what we went out and got.
“The kids have been really good at training, really pushing the boys and there’s starting to be some good vibes down there.”
Losing their first three games in 2022 put them on the back foot immediately, as every game from that point on carried extra weight.
They won eight of their final 10 matches to close the year and hit finals in top form, only losing to eventual premiers Gembrook Cockatoo in the second half of the season.
With the Brookers moving up to Premier Division, it means the Titans haven’t been beaten by a current Division One side since Seville got the better of them in early June.
For a team still finding their brand and a side forming those all important connections and synergy with one-another, it’s a scary prospect for their opponents, and bodes well for their immediate future, having been touted as a premiership fancy.
“We’ll do everything we can to give our club opportunities to be at their best and I don’t think we’ll be relaxed in any way,” Benstead said, reflecting on the lessons learned in 2022.
“We want to go further, we want to be more competitive, and we want to be harder to play against.
“We’ve got a lot of new players in and a lot of younger players have got more experience now.
“Judging by the attitude in preseason and competitiveness, I don’t think there’ll be a drop off and I think that’s on the coach to make sure the attitude’s right, that they’re enjoying their footy and it’s a good environment and we hit our KPI’s defensively.
“I’m really keen to go a step further and I think our players group are too.
“We’ve got a list that should make finals, so we want to be competitive every week and want to improve every week, and then when you get into finals you let your football do the talking.”
Fixture:
Round 1: Saturday 15 April v Hallam (Home)
Round 2: Saturday 22 April v Officer (Away)
Round 3: Saturday 29 April v Emerald (Home)
Round 4: Saturday 6 May v Healesville (Away)
Round 5: Saturday 13 May v Belgrave (Away)
Round 6: Saturday 27 May v Seville (Home)
Round 7: Saturday 3 June v Bye
Round 8: Saturday 17 June v Hallam (Away)
Round 9: Saturday 24 June v Healesville (Home)
Round 10: Saturday 1 July v Emerald (Away)
Round 11: Saturday 8 July v Officer (Home)
Round 12: Saturday 15 July v Belgrave (Home)
Round 13: Saturday 22 July v Seville (Away)
Round 14: Saturday 29 July v Bye
Round 15: Saturday 5 August v Seville (Home)
Round 16: Saturday 12 August v Emerald (Away)
Round 17: Saturday 19 August v Hallam (Home)
Round 18: Saturday 26 August v Officer (Away)
