Fitzroy Stars coach Jason Mifsud belives his side has the depth and versatility to contend for the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 premiership this season.
The Stars have taken a somewhat different approach to their pre-season this year as they prepare for the season ahead.
Speaking to NFL.org.au, Mifsud said his club had focused heavily on match simulation drills.
“We have done a lot more match play this year,” Mifsud said.
“We’ve introduced a lot more match conditioning and match scenarios into our training program and the players are responding really well it.”
The training has been implemented to try to improve the Stars’ ability to close out games.
Last year a string of close losses proved costly and ultimately ended their finals series when beaten by Diamond Creek by a goal after the final siren in the first semi final.
“We lost four games by less than a goal last year,” Mifsud said.
“We minimised the amount of games we’ve lost by big margins, we think defensively we have gotten better, but we need to improve more, so that’s an area of the game we’ve worked hard on over summer.”
The Stars have lost key forward Daniel Francis, who booted 71 majors in last year’s campaign, after he returned to Hurstbridge ahead of its return to the top flight.
Mifsud said the Stars will try to spread the load left by Francis.
“When you lose a key player that kicked 70 plus, they aren’t easily replaceable, however on balance I think we will share that load more than we were able to last year,” he said.
“It will create a bit more versatility into our side.”
The Stars’ coach has been thoroughly impressed by some of his players throughout the pre-season.
Richard Bamblett has been a standout after returning to the Stars from the VFL, while Allan Norris and Shawn Wilkey, who came to the Stars midway through last year, have also had solid pre-seasons.
“(Bamblett) has been exceptional, I see a lot of players come back from a high level and slip back into second gear pretty quick, but Richie has maintained fantastic conditioning and a really high standard,” Mifsud said
“Although he has had some off-season surgery, (Norris) is in fantastic condition and is a brilliant competitor. It suggests he is going to be a very consistent player for us.
“(Wilkey) has had an exceptional pre-season. He has hardly missed a night and has set a very high standard. He will help us reach the next level given his pre-season form.”
Fitzroy has plenty of finals experience after playing in each of the past five Division 2 finals series, including the 2013 and 2014 grand finals.
Mifsud and the club are hopeful and optimistic this could be the year they take the next step and go all the way.
“Ultimately, we are playing for premierships. We’ve prepared to be a premiership team, we’re planning to be a premiership team and we need to compete to be a premiership team,” he said.
Fitzroy commences its 2017 campaign with a trip to Montmorency Park to face off against relegated Division 1 outfit Lower Plenty on Saturday April 8.
