Old Eltham Collegians coach Matthew Sleeman is confident a concerted effort to close out games better in 2020 will ensure the club improves on a promising inaugural campaign in the NFNL.
The Turtles last year showed glimpses they could compete with the best teams in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3, highlighted by a 65-point thrashing of grand finalist South Morang in Round 16.
The competition newcomers finished the 2019 campaign in seventh spot on the ladder with a 6-1-9 record.
While pleased with the club’s performance in its first season in the league, Sleeman believed the team struggled to finish off games, which has become a focus area this pre-season.
“We lost a lot of games last season late in the game. We were with sides up until three quarter time and we didn’t use the ball well in the last quarter to control the game,” Sleeman told NFNL.org.au.
“So, we’ve done a lot of work in how to save the game in the dying moments and how to win a game in the dying moments.”
Sleeman was appointed Old Eltham Collegians’ senior coach for the 2020 season in August last year after Johnathon Garrard announced he would not seek to continue in the role beyond 2019.
Sleeman served as the Turtles’ senior assistant and backline coach last year and previously spent ten years in various roles at West Preston-Lakeside.
His time with the Roosters was highlighted by guiding the reserves to the 2014 premiership. He also served as an assistant coach to the seniors and enjoyed stints as coach of the under-19s and under-17s.
Having experienced a decade within a Division 1 club, Sleeman is hoping to instill similar standards at the Turtles as the club transitions from its former amateur status.
“Basically, it’s professionalism. Improving the training standards is something that I want to bring,” he said.
Sleeman said last year was an experimental season for Old Eltham Collegians following its transition from the VAFA but is confident the club is heading into 2020 better for the experience.
“Obviously last season was a dip in the water sort of year,” he said.
“We just had to see where we were at and how we’re going to compete against the rest of the competition.
“After 12 months we’re confident now that our list isn’t far off the pace and we’re absolutely happy with where we’re at.”
The club goes into 2020 with added depth, despite losing 2019 best and fairest Kieran Malone, who has returned to former club Lower Plenty.
Sleeman believes the Turtles’ recruiting during the off-season has put them in a better position than the same time last season, despite the loss of their reigning club champion.
Former West Preston-Lakeside duo Luke McKenna and Michael Batey have come on board. Both were key contributors to the Roosters during Sleeman’s stint with the club.
McKenna played over 120 senior games for West Preston-Lakeside between 2009 and 2017 and was a member of the 2010 premiership side.
He has spent the past two years with Echuca in the Goulburn Valley League and was named in the competition’s top 50 players list for the 2019 season.
Batey has made 150 appearances at senior level for both the Roosters and Milawa and brings great experience, despite playing his last senior match in 2017.
“These guys are going to lift our own standards and make everyone else around them better,” Sleeman said.
“Yes, we’ve lost a very good player in Kieran, but I still believe our list is ahead of where it was last season.”
Old Eltham Collegians will play four practice games ahead of the 2020 campaign, commencing with a clash against Epping on March 5, before taking on Watsonia (March 14), Panton Hill (March 19) and Healesville (March 26).
The club’s 2020 home and away campaign will commence with a home match against Lalor at Eltham College on April 4.
