Two-time West Preston-Lakeside premiership co-captain Ahmed Saad says his side is hungry to secure a third-consecutive Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 premiership in 2020.
The Roosters defied the odds in each of the past two seasons to become the first NFNL club in a decade to win back-to-back senior premierships.
The club’s chances of lifting more silverware this year will be bolstered by the return of 2018 premiership stars Adam Valeri and Carl Adams from a year abroad, and the addition of VFL pair Ethan Penrith and Josh Iacabaccio.
Speaking to NFNL.org.au on the eve of the 2020 season, Saad said the club’s ability to keep the chemistry of the side strong would give it the best possible chance to shoot for a third-straight flag.
“We’ve kept most of our list, which was the priority last year,” Saad said.
“There were only one or two who played in the grand final that went back to their local clubs, but the best thing is we’ve gained the likes of Carl Adams and Adam Valeri from the year before, as well as guys like Ethan Penrith.
“We’re pretty happy with what we’ve picked up but the most important thing we wanted to do was to keep the rest of our list because we feel like we are building something special here.”
The Roosters’ journey to the 2019 premiership started poorly, losing their first six matches to sit bottom of the ladder six rounds into their premiership defence.
However, they managed to turn things around to win 14 of their next 16 games to claim arguably the most famous premiership win in league history – capped by an upset 12-point win over Greensborough in the grand final.
Despite the incredible achievement of winning last year’s flag from fourth place on the ladder, Saad said the reigning premier was keen to avoid a similar start to the season this time around.
“We knew we didn’t start well last year being 0-6, but there was not once during the season where we lacked belief or threw the towel in. We knew we just had to get back on track and start playing the way we wanted to play,” he said.
“This year we just have to obviously make sure that we are aware of the mistakes we made last year, and we have already addressed that internally to ensure we don’t repeat that.
“The competition is really even and to go 0-6 last year and come back, it was the first time in history. So, we know it will be even harder to come back from that again, so we don’t want to be in that position.
“We know the other teams are working pretty hard. We are going to be hunted again just like we were last year. We’ve just got to make sure we improve and are hungry again for success, which we all are.”
The three-time Division 1 Team of the Year forward has played a major role in West Preston-Lakeside’s success under Rob Maiorana over the past three years, kicking 231 goals in 54 appearances for the club.
Having topped the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 goal kicking table in both 2019 and 2017, Saad said he was motivated to continue his rich vein of form in 2020.
“I go into every year wanting to win the league competition for goal kicking because if I do that then I’ll know at least we’re playing good footy and I’ll be doing my role for the team,” he said.
“Without my team I’m obviously not able to kick those goals, but for me personally I always try to aim high and if I fall short at least I know that I gave it a good crack.”
Saad has shared the captaincy with Nathan Valladares for the past two seasons and it is expected the duo will retain the role in 2020.
But whether or not he has an official leadership role, Saad’s priority is to teach and develop the young talent that enters the gates of J. E. Moore Park.
“We haven’t formalised our leadership group yet, but I’d say that me and ‘Nugget’ (Valladares) would go again,” he said.
“We’ve been pretty lucky that in our first two seasons as co-captains that we’ve won back-to-back flags, so I don’t see us stepping down.
“But for me, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got a title next to your name. Whether you’re the captain, vice-captain or in the leadership group, I believe that anyone that’s got some experience is able to pass that down to either younger players or players that need that development.
“Since I’ve been at the club I’ve been trying to help as much as I can and anyone that speaks to me and needs advice, I’m more than happy to help out and throughout training try and provide that experience.
“I might not have played in the professional system long but the things that I learnt in my short time I try my best to pass that on because it’s only going to help us get better and help develop our younger guys and other guys coming through, which will make us a better team.”
After last year becoming the first team in a decade to defend an NFNL senior premiership, all eyes will be on the Roosters this year to see if they can achieve a three-peat.
If they can do so, they will be within touching distance of joining Heidelberg (2006-2009) and Northcote Park (1999-2002) as the only clubs in league history to win four-consecutive Division 1 premierships.
Saad expects the competition to be fierce throughout this year’s premiership defence, but the 30-year-old is confident that if his side sticks to its values, it will be the team to beat in 2020.
“For us to put our hand up again and play in September and to then get a chance to win it for the third time, we need to be competitive, we need to be consistent and we know we can’t drop off in games,” he said.
“It’s a pretty tight comp and we just have to make sure we can control what we can control and that every week we come prepared, ready to play, ready to compete and to put the effort in.
“If we lose games but we’ve been good on the day, that’s fine, as long as our effort, our intensity and what we stand for as a club is shown on that day.
“But if we come out with no effort, a lack of intensity and no competitiveness, well then that’s where it hurts. We don’t want to be a team that’s known for playing like that.
“I think teams know that when we’re up and about that we’re pretty hard to beat but that’s because of our hard work, not necessarily the talent we’ve got on the park. It’s about the effort we put in and that’s something we really value.”
