Player profile courtesy of UTS Bats website
After narrowly missing out on a maiden Premier Division finals berth in 2012, every session throughout the pre-season for 2013, has been focused on getting ready for the next step: taking part in the September action.
One man that’s set to play a key role for the UTS Bats is Dan McFarlane. The tough in and under midfielder is entering his second season at the club and has plenty of finals experience.
Having grown up in Melbourne, McFarlane played six seasons for Mulgrave before moving to Canberra and joining the Ainslie Football Club.
The 31-year-old tasted success with Ainslie in both 2010 and 2011 and now wants to help the Bats take the next step in the AFL Sydney competition.
“It’s a pretty different competition [in Sydney] to what I have played in previously,” McFarlane says.
“We’ve got a diverse playing group with a huge range of skills, fitness levels and football smarts, but there are some very talented local and interstate players and I hope this is the year we can push into the finals.”
Work brought the Victorian north of the border, where he’s employed by the Sydney Swans as a Football Technology Analyst.
After witnessing first-hand one of the great football journeys – which saw the underrated Swans going all the way to win the flag – McFarlane’s value to the Bats extends beyond his work on the field.
“Much of the work ethic and team culture at the Swans is player driven and I try to contribute what I can to the Bats in this area,” he says. “Lynchy (Premier League coach Daniel Lynch) is a very cluey footy coach with a very strong background and I try to help him out with any footy feedback I pick up on too.”
With his second pre-season at the Bats almost behind him, McFarlane has been a standout on the training track across summer.
“Dan has been a super consistent performer at pre-season training, not only is he always there, but he works himself into the ground,” Lynch says.
“Along with Scotty Tregonning, JK (Justin Kenna), BWT (Blake Worrall-Thompson) and Franky Boland, he’s really stood out with the way he’s pushed himself in every session.
“As a result, our ability to cover the ground, get to contests and carry the ball should improve dramatically off the back of this hard work.”
Lynch can’t speak highly enough of McFarlane, and hopes for another big season from him, both on and off the field.
“Dan brings experience, smarts, contested inside footy, motivation and energy that few opposition players could match and every Bats teammate fed off in 2012,” says Lynch.
“He clearly showed that he not only had the ability to shut down an opposition player but also the ability to win his own ball and deliver at a high level of efficiency."
Like many Bats players, McFarlane balances football with his career, and his role with the Swans sees him miss the odd match.
“I would never ask for, or want a rest week off footy, but at my age now the occasional week off is probably a good thing,” McFarlane says.
“The club is great about it and know that individuals have other commitments that will sometimes keep you away.
"The Bats are willing to work together with players to keep good people and good players involved wherever possible.”
Last Modified on 14/03/2013 11:57
