After two COVID-disrupted seasons, Heidelberg West coach Michael Missen says his club’s focus this pre-season is to reconnect as a group and enjoy playing football again.
Speaking to NFNL.org.au with their pre-season training program well under way, Missen said the approach for the upcoming campaign had been embraced by the players.
“One of the big things that we felt that was lost from footy last year was just that enjoyment factor of being able to be around each other,” Missen said.
“So being able to get everyone back together has definitely been our highest priority.”
Heidelberg West sat in fifth position on the Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 ladder when the 2021 the season was cut short.
The Hawks were confident they could string together late season wins that would propel them into a finals spot for the first time since 1994, which would have been a huge achievement in Missen’s first season at the helm of the senior team.
When asked about his learned experiences from his first season as head coach, Missen spoke about the relationships he built with his players.
“Last year was obviously challenging with the COVID situation,” Missen said.
“But I’m really close with my playing group, and I was able to take the time to really connect during those tough times with the lockdown.
“I’m really excited by it (2022 season) and the boys are really excited, which pairs up pretty well.”
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As the club looks to improve on last season’s fifth-place finish, Missen has set the challenge for his playing group to elevate to a higher level, with the goal of playing finals footy in 2022.
“We want to play finals footy,” Missen said.
“We feel like we’re on the right track leading into last year, but we’re really excited to improve as a group from last year.”
Missen said Nicholas Paton had already impressed on the training track after crossing from Montmorency and would be a welcome addition.
“He’s just been unbelievable since he came to the club,” Missen said.
“His professionalism, work rate, his buy-in and ability to actually work on the guys around him and help them become better players has been first rate.”
Missen believes recruits Louis Hill (Lalor) and Marcus Hill (Yarroweyah) would also be important contributors and further improved the club’s depth.
“I feel like in the past we’ve possibly just relied on too few too often. And that’s been a real key focus on our sort of recruitment strategy, is actually trying to build depth through certain parts of the ground,” Missen said.
“We were able to go out and recruit Louis who was obviously at Lalor but somebody who we’ve got a good relationship within the club already.
“And (Marcus) is in the same boat. He’s another tough inside midfielder that we recruited to try and spread the load a bit as well.
“We’re really excited about what they’ll bring to the depth of the squad.”
However, Heidelberg West will enter the new season with two of its star players from the past four seasons, with Jarryd Coulson and Masaki Miki joining Division 2 outfit Thomastown.
Speaking on the departure of three-time competition best and fairest Coulson, Missen said it would leave a hole that can’t be easily replaced.
“He’s a three-time Division 3 best and fairest winner. He’s a pretty big figure amongst the club. To think that we’re going to be able to get one person who will be able to come in and replace Jarryd, there’s not one person out there,” Missen said.
“We’re still really excited about what Lachie (Evans) brings to the table. But in saying that as well, we’re not looking for Lachie to be Jarryd Coulson.
“Lachie has got some great strengths. His ability around the ground is first class. He moves better than most midfielders in the league so he’s going to be a handful for most opposition teams.
“We just want him to play his best and stick to what he’s good at it and that’s all we can ask for.”
Heidelberg West kicked off its pre-season practice match campaign against Epping last Saturday.
The Hawks will make a trip to take on Portarlington later this month before beginning their 2022 home and away campaign on April 2 when they host Lalor at Heidelberg Park.
