Montmorency coach Ben Haynes says the club is feeling positive ahead of the 2018 season after topping up its list in a bid to re-establish itself as a premiership contender.
The Magpies, who have won four Division 1 premierships and are the only team to have never been relegated from the top flight, haven’t played finals since finishing the 2014 season in third place.
Haynes admitted it’s been a “disappointing” three years at the club, but the list of inclusions over the summer, headlined by ex-AFL duo Ben Kennedy and Matt White, have added real belief at Montmorency Park.
“Certainly we’d be hoping to play finals this year,” Haynes told NFNL.org.au.
“The bottom line is we know it’s a really even comp, we know that week in week out, regardless of personnel, you’ve got to play and put your best foot forward.
“We saw last year Eltham won five games but still got relegated, so we’re hopeful and are aiming to play finals but I understand that it’s a pretty healthy comp.”
Despite the well-documented inclusions, which also comprise the VFL-listed Danko Bzenic (Richmond), Peter McEvoy (Coburg), Tyrone Leonardis (North Melbourne) and Luke Bunker (Coburg), Haynes is still conscious of developing the future of the club.
“We’re still really confident in a lot of our kids that are going to come through and make the grade,” he said.
“We realised that we needed to top up with a little bit of top-end talent but not taking our eye off the ball in terms of that junior pathway.”
Star on-baller Ben Fennell will also be making his return this season after undergoing a knee reconstruction in 2017, however expectations won’t be fanciful.
The Magpies have also added South Morang key defender Jake Potter and wingman Jordan Steele to the ranks.
“Fennell, prior to going down with his knee just over 12 months ago, was probably the best player in the comp,” Haynes said.
“He’s been great on the track and is going to have a big impact.
“Jake Potter’s been huge. I wouldn’t say he’s surprised us because there were certainly some big wraps on him from other people within the league, but just his attitude and the way he’s taking everything in is first class.
“Jordy is another one that’s been really good has trained really well. He’s a really good runner in terms of being able to cover the ground and also kicks it well.”
More than anything, Haynes says he is pleased to have greater depth through his playing squad after struggling with an undermanned list throughout the 2017 season.
“Just looking in isolation to last year, Matt Hunt, who finished third in our best and fairest, missed seven games. Ben Walton, who’s probably our most important player, missed eight games, we had Fennell obviously miss the year, we had Luke Collins miss 10 and Jimmy Brooker missed 10,” Haynes said.
“So straight away off the back of that, and casting aside the recruits, we’re in a really good position in terms of our depth and just being able to cover for guys.”
The Magpies had a practice match against Blackburn on Saturday, with games against Lower Plenty and Deer Park still to come ahead of their Round 1 clash against Greensborough on April 14.
“Last year was such a tough year for the club, it really was,” Haynes said.
“We got pushed in every direction and really got exposed through injuries and depth, but we feel like we’ve corrected that.
“We’re really positive in our top-end and are really hopeful that we’re going to have a good year.
“We’re looking forward to getting back into it, getting back on track and winning games of footy.”
