Whittlesea coach Blair Harvey believes the confidence gained during a long pre-season will help the Eagles as they return to A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 this weekend.
The Eagles spent the past three seasons in Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 before being relegated at the end of last season following a last round defeat to Hurstbridge.
Harvey feels his side has overcome the disappointment of last year and has faith the improvement made throughout the off-season can help Whittlesea reach the heights of its past three appearances in second division – when the Eagles won the 2015, 2013 and 2010 flags.
“There’s a good vibe from the players. It’s been long [pre-season] but it’s good to get it over and done with and we’re looking forward to Round 1,” Harvey told NFNL.org.au.
“Obviously they were disappointed about going down, especially winning just two games last year, the morale was pretty low.
“So, the focus was to try and build some confidence within the group knowing that they obviously had come off a poor season and that has been important for us.”
It’s set to be a highly anticipated season, with the likes of Eltham, Thomastown, Banyule, Fitzroy Stars and Diamond Creek also looking to challenge for the premiership.
But while Harvey is weary of the challenges, he is still confident the Eagles can remain a contender.
“Our main expectation is to win but also to just make sure our boys are playing to our structures and our game plans that they’ve learned throughout the pre-season,” he said.
“I think most other teams will be looking to win a premiership. Every side will be eyeing off to play finals because I think it’s going to be a very even competition.
“It’s going to be our focus all year to stick to our structures and keep on improving and learning and trying to get everything right starting with this week.”
The Eagles have lost several key players throughout the off-season.
Former captain Andrew Fairchild has been appointed coach of Kinglake, where he will be joined by Chris Horman, while two time best and fairest Jai Robinson and Brenton Briffa will remain playing Division 1 football with Montmorency and Bundoora respectively.
However, the focus from the club has been on bringing in the youth, signing midfielder Jesse Owens-Draper (Mernda) and forward Sam Indian (South Morang), while also acquiring Yea duo Lachlan Beattie and Harrison Jarvie.
Harvey believes the enthusiasm the young players bring to the list will help with the season at hand.
“I’m really excited about the youth we’ve got at the football club. Just seeing them in the practice matches, seeing how they’ve gone about it is really exciting,” he said.
“They’ve been training like senior footballers now and for them to be able to do a full pre-season, I think they’re going to get a lot of benefits from it.
“They’ve become a lot fitter than what they have been in the past. I think they will adapt well for senior football, especially when the pressure is on early.”
After a decorated playing career that saw him win six premierships for both Heidelberg and North Heidelberg, this will be Harvey’s first full-time coaching position.
However, he does have experience in the role, following a stint as caretaker playing-coach at the Tigers in 2011, where he guided the club to a grand final appearance.
Harvey is hoping his previous experience will help him ease into coaching while also continuing to learn and develop as he goes along.
“Being captain of Heidelberg for so long, I had a big input with the coaching group so adapting into the coaching role I have found to be pretty easy just because I’ve been around that leadership role for most of my career,” Harvey said.
“It’s more delegating to assistant coaches where I’ve found it to be the most difficult part.
“As I go along, I hope that with that support around me and I can utilise them the best way I possibly can.”
Whittlesea travels to Epping this Saturday in the opening round of A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2, before facing Diamond Creek the following week in their first home game of the year.
