Round One might be in the books, but scouting ahead at each club's season outlook doesn't stop. We chat to Essendon Doutta Stars coach Barry Prendergast who provides some insights on what their 2024 campaign will look like.
2023: 8th (5W, 13L, 60.2%)
Coach: Barry Prendergast
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"We wanted to build our list, we were light on for depth and once we did that and got into preseason, we wanted to grow our game as well. We established a few things around the contest, winning the ball, competing, and just being hard to play against, all things that everyone likes to be. We just need to build on our ball movement, we struggled to score last year.
"We were pretty fortunate last year with our injury run and our depth wasn't truly tested, but we feel we've addressed that and our reserves team will be much more competitive."
LIST SHAPE
"It's healthy and it's young, and that's what we were after. We're not planning to change the whole ship in one or two years. There's more depth and we want to provide opportunity. We also see ourselves as a club that can develop players that can go on to higher levels of footy.
"We've been able to get young players through the door who have been really strong in lower divisions and want to play Premier Division and we think they can be really good players at this level.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"There's quite a few! Giacomo Thomas had a breakout year, as did Declan Tully, two established players. Darcy Runting is a player who had a good year last year but can step up again. Bailey Ryan and Noah Weihrauch are two of those guys who've come up and will be strong. Liam Mercieca has come in as a ruck which was a weakness for us last year.
Through our Under 18 program, Josh Whitfield is at the Cannons, Alex Sikora played some games last year and they're two young developing players coming through. The bar's going to be a lot higher for those blokes to take their spot in the team but we're not limiting anybody. Michael Kiraly and Angus Murray are two on VFL lists we're excited about when we have them.
2024 OUTLOOK
"We won five games last year and we'll be hoping to advance on that. We have such a young group so we want to develop a strong culture and be a club people enjoy their footy at and want to stay. We also obviously want to develop all our players. If we get those things done we know we'll be in a pretty good place!
"The way we finished proved to a lot of the guys that if we put the work in, we can get the results we want. We took some 100-point floggings last year and came back and won the next week, so we don't want those fluctuations in our performance and be much more competitive across the board.
ON THE RECORD WITH BARRY PRENDERGAST
You were competitive against Abers, had a big win against Marby, and a stirring win against Greenvale to finsih 2023. What did such a strong finish to the year do for the group?
It had a massive impact on the club overall, the players saw a light at the end of the tunnel to know the club is moving in the direction we want.
The group has been awesome since coming back, numbers have improved greatly and there's more of their voice and less of the coach's voice. We know leadership can be tough for young people so we've had Gavin Brown come in and do some sessions, focusing on putting down some solid values to live and work on as a culture.
The women also won the premiership and that added to the vibe as well! That program is going incredibly and the way the two programs interact is something we're proud of – a one-club mentality. We need everyone pulling in the same direction no matter which part of it you are for us to grow and get better and compete with the big dogs, because we're not quite there yet.
You'd obviously love to have a lot of experienced heads around but you've been able to blood some young players, do you find that as a point of difference to fast track their improvement?
There's a maturity factor that goes on with it, but there's also being able to show them what leadership looks like and what behaviours compromise leadership and promote it. Games into players creates a confidence for them at the level, but they also have to perform at the level.
There is the games played aspect, but it's more about them recognising when leadership is required and where they can show their potential.
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Giacomo Thomas.
Biggest pest at the club?
Darcy Runting.
Who might be viewed as the coach's pet?
Declan Tully.
One opposition player you’d love on your side?
You can put Nick O'Kearney (Keilor) in my team if you like!
Flag tip outside of Essendon Doutta Stars?
Keilor.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Josh Robertson (Keilor), Bailey Ryan (Hillside), Noah Weihrauch (West Coburg), Liam Mercieca (Burnside Heights), Andre Jaycock (Maribyrnong Park), Bayley Overend (Coburg Districts), Kelton Overend (Greensborough), Joshua Blake (Banyule), James De Virgilio (Yallourn Yallourn North), Dylan Laurie (Caroline Springs), Michael Kiraly (Macleod), Angus Murray (Seymour), Julian Callegari (Doncaster East), Luke Hakim (Maribyrnong Park), James Loeliger (Moonee Valley), Brodie Evans (Maribyrnong Park), James Ryan (St Bernards), Jack McCartney (Oak Park), Jack Allen (Sunbury Kangaroos), Jack Williams (Mooroopna) & Patrick O'Sullivan (St Bernards).
Out: Luke Rowland (Tullamarine), Zach Hijazi (St Albans), Tom Wallis (North Heidelberg), James Harrold (Old Melburnians), Harvey Connor (Nunawading), Billy Cootee (Norwood), Sean McLaren (Hurstbridge), Campbell Wearne (Diggers Rest), Dylan Gwynne (St Bernards), Jack Barnes (East Sunbury), Jordan Davis (Sunshine), Ethan Sivijs (Sunshine), Thomas Barker (St Bernards), Dean Johnson (Reservoir), James Duggan (Lancefield), Matthew Evans (Rupertswood), William Clowes (Rupertswood) & Liam Clowes (Rupertswood).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
Douttas have brought in a range of young talent who they’ll be hoping can add to the culture of their already youthful group, while also helping bring them out of the relegation battle. They lost experience and their top-three best and fairest recipients over the summer but will be hoping they can carry the momentum they built with some strong performances to end 2023 into 2024.
Ladder Prediction: Bottom end.
2024 FIXTURE
