Greensborough star Tom Bell believes a year off football has only made his side more determined to atone for its 2019 grand final defeat.
The Boro had a near perfect home and away campaign in 2019, finishing atop the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 ladder with a 17-1 record, with a two-point defeat to Heidelberg their only loss during the regular season.
Despite a huge win over North Heidelberg in the second semi final, Greensborough fell short of premiership glory at the final hurdle, succumbing to West Preston-Lakeside in a hard-fought grand final by 12 points.
Speaking to NFNL.org.au, Bell is positive his side can reach the heights of its 2019 home and away season, believing the year off football has made the club even more hungry to go one step better in 2021.
“I think for Greensborough, both seniors and reserves, after what we endured on that final day in September a couple of years ago, having a year off to let the fire burn in the belly has been good for us,” Bell said.
“The vibe around the club has been good. I think having that year off has probably refreshed a lot of guys.
“It would’ve been nice to have a run around last year. I was confident that we put in a really good pre-season last year to get ourselves back to that same position that we were in.
“Obviously that got taken away, and for us to wait two years to get back what we lost in 2019, I think it’s made the boys incredibly hungry.”
With intraclub games and practice matches aplenty before the opening round of the season, Bell was impressed with the squad’s attitude.
He named captain Chris Clark and midfielder Zak McCubbin as two senior players who were destined for big seasons.
“We had an intraclub and they were the two guys that really stuck out in the game,” he said.
“We obviously lost Charlie Molyneux a couple of years ago and I think Chris has taken it upon himself that he now understands that he has to step up and play a bit more of that inside mid role that Charlie was holding. He’s done it well so far.
“As for Zak, I think in 2019 he actually really came into his own in the final six games. We started playing him a bit forward and I think has has moulded himself into a high half forward and a bit of a goal sneak. He’s really quick and really hard to play on.”
During the off-season Greensborough announced the majority of its playing list had re-signed for the upcoming season, including the entire leadership group.
Bell had been heavily sought after by many local football clubs at the end of the 20219 season but with most of his fellow teammates signing on, he said Greensborough was the place he most wanted to play football.
“It’s great that not only our leaders have stuck around but we’ve got pretty much the same coaching staff, including our coach Mick Harford,” he said.
“What we created in 2019 was pretty special. To have the band back together and coming into a fresh 2021 season is super exciting for the whole club.”
Bell will be hoping to replicate his form from a stellar 2019 season which saw him win the Rosbrook Medal as the competition’s best and fairest player, as well as earn selection in the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 Team of the Year.
But the last thing the 29-year-old wants to do is pile additional pressure on himself, saying his approach to the 2021 season will be similar to that of 2019.
“I like to keep my football pretty simple,” Bell said.
“I touched on it a couple of years ago, that when I was at the AFL, there was plenty going on with injury, form, team selection – things that were out of my control.
“But in 2019, I think that what made me have such a good year was that I actually enjoyed my football a little more. I came back to local level and kept things pretty basic.
“I’m not going to change a whole heap with my footy this year. I’m going to continue to enjoy training during the week, continue to enjoy running out on the weekend with the boys and after a win, sharing a beer with them in the change rooms.
“I’m not putting any expectations on myself because I think when you start putting too many expectations on yourself, the pressure gets to you and that’s probably when you find those guys that have had a really good season, they get second-year blues.
“But I know I’m going look after my body and give myself every opportunity to play every home and away game for the boys and hopefully contribute enough to the side to get us back where we were.”
