FIRST-year Newtown & Chilwell Coach Damien McMahon believes the Eagles can contend for next year’s GFL premiership despite missing this year’s finals.
McMahon, who returns to Elderslie Reserve after 15 years in Western Australia, which included a stint coaching in the WAFL, is confident the 2015 runner-up will retain a majority of its list.
“We’ve got a real youth focus and we’d like to see some more of our young, developing players get opportunities at senior level, and we hope they can spark us to a strong start,” he told K rock Football.com.au.
“We know that in 2016 we were slow starters, and was probably the thing that cost the club playing finals.
“We need to make sure we’re a bit fitter and smarter and get off to a better start. If we can do that, and we’re thereabouts at the end of the season, who knows what can happen.”
After starting last season with a 2-3 record, Newtown & Chilwell went on a seven-match winning streak, sitting third on the ladder with a two-game break of fifth after Round 12.
However, a heartbreaking two-point loss the following week started a five-game slide that would put paid to their finals hopes.
“I’d like to think we can improve on our results from this season, but ultimately we’re just trying to achieve a platform for long-term success,” McMahon said.
“And that’s what this year will be about, hence why we’re having a youth development focus.
“We want to be constantly improving. Whether it’s the coaching group, the playing group, or the club itself, we know there is lots of room for improvement.
“And if we can tick those boxes, we’d like to think, come the end of the season, we’ll be in a healthy position.”
Veteran forward Luke Forbes is the only confirmed departure from the list, while Nathan Braddock and Jarrod McCorkell are both weighing up their futures.
“They’re more likely to retire, McMahon said.
“I have a link to both of them, I’d love them to continue on.
“But at the end of the day, I’m not going to twist their arm.
“If they want to be here, because they’re fit and healthy, certainly we’d love to have them.
“There’s a couple of players considering travelling overseas as well.
“Between now and Christmas, those guys will make a decision one way or the other, so we can hit January knowing exactly what we’re dealing with.”
BFL Team of the Year member Jacob Sharp has crossed the river from Geelong Amateur, while former juniors Mitch Diamond and Lockey McCartney both look set to play with the Eagles.
The former Geelong Falcons are both part of the Geelong VFL training squad.
“And there’s a few others that are in that mould that will be training at Geelong that we’re actively pursuing at the moment, and hopefully we can get them over the line.
“Me being away at the moment makes it really hard. I’ve been trying to get back every second week to see as many of these guys as I can.
With McMahon still based in Perth until the New Year, Newtown & Chilwell’s training between now and Christmas will involve skill development and fitness.
“And as we soon as we get back, we’ll get more into some game sense training and start honing in on structures when I’m here full time,” he said.
“We don’t want to get too bogged down in that pre-Christmas with me not being here.
“There’ll be a lot of new stuff being introduced and I need to be here to be able to do that.”
Twitter: @tom_king79
