HEADING into their fifth successive Division 2 finals series, the Fitzroy Stars have bolted into premiership contention over the past two months.
The Stars have won eight of their past 10 matches ahead of the first semi final against Diamond Creek this weekend.
On the eve of his first finals series as coach of the Stars, Jason Mifsud couldn’t be prouder of the way his side has responded following its slow start to the season.
“We went through a couple of learning periods earlier in the year and just the way the players have responded in the back half of the year has been nothing short of exceptional,” Mifsud said.
“(We’ve) set a really high level of growth and maturity in the way we’ve played and prepared leading into the finals series. It gives me a lot of confidence for what we can do.”
Ahead of the cut-throat final, assistant coach Simon Minton-Connell has recognised the Stars’ growth this season in an even competition.
“We’ve won 10 (matches) and we’ve lost three by less than four points. We could have been 13-3, we’re among the best performed sides in the comp and the final ladder shows you how even the whole thing is,” Minton-Connell said.
“We’ve all been around and we know we’ve got to play at our best for finals (and) there’ll be no excuses for either side. It’s up there for anyone to win this year.”
The Stars have transformed their list this season, which has seen the unearthing of new talent and the reinvention of one of the club’s key players.
Daniel Francis has topped the Division 2 goal kicking with 68 majors, including a bag of 10 against former side and fellow premiership contender Hurstbridge in Round 15.
Minton-Connell has watched the lively forward since early in his career and has seen him take his game to a new level in 2016.
“I knew Daniel from many years ago. He was here when he was 17. I said ‘this kid can really play’,” Minton-Connell said.
“As he’s got fitter, he’s been unbelievable. If he can’t get it, he’s bringing it to ground, whereas before he was a little bit desperate to win the ball and give away free kicks if he couldn’t get it.
"He’s become a lot more of a team player.
“Outside of Daniel, Clinton Benjamin has been terrific across half back. We’ve found a couple of players in Joseph Kelly and Alex Williamson that we didn’t really expect to play too much and they’ve cemented their spots in the side through their determination and defensive efforts.”
Mifsud has enjoyed his first season at the helm of the Fitzroy Stars.
He has previously spent time coaching in country Victoria and has held assistant coaching roles at St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs. More recently, he was the AFL’s Head of Diversity.
“I’ve loved it. I’ve got a lot of strong family ties at the Stars and I’ve had a lot of uncles, great uncles and aunties be involved with the history of the club,” Mifsud said.
“I had a really strong sense of connectedness to it before I took the role on. Ultimately that was my motivating factor. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Working alongside Simon Minton-Connell has been an enjoyable experience in the Fitzroy coaches’ box.
“He’s a beauty. He’s one of the best people I’ve met in footy,” Mifsud said.
Minton-Connell believes the Stars’ coaching panel to be among the League’s best.
“It’s a good team – if you look at the coaching team I think it’s one of the better ones in the League. I’m really pleased how it’s worked out,” he said.
Mifsud’s coaching has been invested in the people, creating a positive environment not only on the field, but off the field.
“I think it’s really important that you coach the people, not the players," Mifsud said.
"If you really invest in creating great and supportive environments, particularly for a lot of our players who’ve been challenged with a whole range of different social circumstances.
“Footy is a great mechanism for Aboriginal people to win – it’s not always a term you can always apply to Aboriginal communities.
“What you see on the field in many respects is sort of secondary to what we’ve been able to achieve off the field and that was a really major part of me accepting the coaching role, given some of the club’s aspirations and the work it does in the broader community.
In an even premiership race, the Stars ran ladder-leaders North Heidelberg to within three points two weeks ago, with a side that was without several key players and included three 16-year-olds.
While Mifsud doesn’t like to measure his side against others, he warns other finals combatants on the eve of their campaign that the Stars mean business.
“I don’t tend to measure us on other teams too much, I’ve always put 99% of my focus on us.
"I couldn’t be happier with where we’re at. We’ve got a really healthy, happy squad. If we are at or anywhere near our best, we know what we can produce.”
