Heidelberg West coach Cam van Florestein is excited about what lies ahead in 2019 but insists he doesn’t want his side to enter the year burdened by high expectation.
The Hawks have finished the past two Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 campaigns in sixth position as they etch closer to breaking a finals drought that extends back to 1994.
They managed eight wins in 2018, while the reserves made it through to the grand final – the club’s first since featuring in the 1995 Division 2 reserves decider
van Florestein, who was appointed playing-coach in October, said he was reluctant to put too much expectation on the developing side ahead of the new season.
“We just got to take it a week at a time and not get ahead of ourselves,” van Florestein told NFNL.org.au.
“I don’t want to set goals and then fall short due to reasons such as injuries at the wrong time of year.
“I’ve told the boys there is no goal but obviously if finals come within reach, I don’t see why we can’t be amongst the challenge.
“It will be something that we will start thinking about and addressing towards the end of the season.”
van Florestein joins the Hawks after a long career in the Eastern Football League, where he made more than 150 senior appearances for Kilsyth, Croydon and Warrandyte.
He said being new to the NFNL had enabled him to bring a fresh approach to Heidelberg Park.
“It’s good to have a fresh start going to a league which I haven’t played in and don’t know anyone,” he said.
“It’s been a clean slate for all of us really. I didn’t know how each of the individuals were as people and players, so they can start again.
“It doesn’t matter if they’re the best or worst player, they’ll all get looked at.”
van Florestein will be joined at Heidelberg West by former Kilsyth teammate Ben Fogarty, who has signed on as a playing assistant.
Fogarty, a powerful midfielder, is a triple premiership player for Altona and has previous coaching experience as an assistant for Kilsyth’s under-19s side.
“Fogs (Ben Fogarty) came with me from Kilsyth and has made the transition for me a lot easier,” van Florestein said.
“He’s been lighting up the track and hasn’t missed a session, so he’s been good.”
2017 Coaches MVP runner-up Masaki Miki has enjoyed a strong pre-season as he returns from an injury-plagued 2018 campaign.
New recruit Billy Wright has also impressed on the training track and will add pace and polish to the Hawks’ line-up.
“Young Billy hasn’t missed a session so far and has impressed,” van Florestein said.
“He’s been really good and a bit like he’s been there a long time after playing with some of the boys previously across the road at Heidelberg.
“He’s made a bit of a difference adding a bit of pace and is very clean around the ball.”
Heidelberg West will play two practice matches ahead of hosting Mernda in Round 1.
The Hawks will take on Warrandyte on March 3, before facing Croydon North on March 16.
