With the 2023 season just around the corner, EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to West Coburg coach Dale May who provides some insights on their 2023 campaign.
2022: 3rd (12W, 6L, 111.49%)
Coach: Dale May (fourth season)
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"This pre-season our biggest focuses were continued development and growth of our playing group on the back of all three teams playing off in grand finals last season, bringing in the right people and talent to our football club, and having a really strong fitness base. We got a taste of finals football last year, but are under no illusions that we need to continue to improve in certain areas, develop the way we move the football and continue to hone our skills.
"By bringing more talent and depth into the club we can now look to put players into different positions and roles within the side which will help our team growth, and their individual growth."
LIST SHAPE
"Over the off season we were able to bring talent into the football club, majority of these players from Premier clubs that fit our culture and have growth mindsets. Most of these recruits are home grown West Coburg players, so it is really pleasing to see them want return to the club, understand the environment we are in, and it’s a real boost to the playing group and club that they believe in where the club is at today and most importantly where the club would like to be in the future.
"The new players will play important roles across all lines within our team, but we are equally enthused by players within the group from last year taking the next step, owning their role and position, and helping us become a stronger football side."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"From a recruitment point of view Tom Baravi, Ruairi and Dinny Cleary, and Jonah Horo have excelled at Premier level and bring more talent and experience across all lines. Omar Saad has been a really strong forward for many years in Division One and will add more versatility to our forward line. Ibby Taha also returns to the football club and is an excellent young footballer with untapped upside.
"When you bring talent into a football side you also see the current group want to take the next step, so the pre-season has seen so many of the current group at fitness levels not seen in my four or five years at this football club, in particular Jesse Martini who will play a key role in our forward line this year."
2023 OUTLOOK
"Our goals for the season are very much around our process, our style of football, and continuing to improve as a football side, both collectively and individually. We focus on inputs and the areas we want to measure and by doing this, we don’t put any ceiling on what this group can achieve. We have a growth mindset of improving each and every week, each and every training session. We know where we want to get to, but this is dictated and controlled by what we put in, and we won’t set exact positional goals and outcomes.
"We are confident in the group and the talent that wanted to be part of the next chapter of this football club and that is exciting, but we know this league is really strong, extremely even, and we look forward to the challenge ahead."
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Angus O'Meara (Lindisfarne), Maroun Diab Kabalan (Canterbury), Mohammed Ayache (Westmeadows), Omar Saad (Westmeadows), Ruairi Cleary (Avondale Heights), Donnacadh Cleary (Avondale Heights), Ibrahim Taha (Airport West), Benjamin Drummond (Westmeadows), Liam Rocca (Greenvale), Jake Rocca (Greenvale), Jonah Horo (Maribyrnong Park) & Thomas Baravi (Maribyrnong Park).
Out: Jacque Bitar (West Preston-Lakeside), Dane Taylor (Therry Penola), Nathan Marcola (Strathmore), Daniel Archer (Huonville Lions), Lynden Dunn (Caulfield Bears), Riley Brennan (Caloundra) & Thomas Jennings (Brunswick).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
After being in the last game of the Rookie Me Division One season in 2022, it's hard to imagine West Coburg not being in the conversation again in 2023, especially with their recruits. Ibby Taha comes back to Shore Reserve along with Tom Baravi and Jonah Horo from Marby, and the Cleary brothers from Avondale Heights who all join a strong Burgers side. Furthermore, Omar Saad will carry his 56 goals across to West Coburg to pair up with Jesse Martini up forward. Similarly to last year, there weren't a lot of names departing the club, but perhaps one of the biggest departures for not just West Coburg, but the whole competition would be Lynden Dunn who is heading to Caulfield.
2023 FIXTURE
