The 2024 season is just around the corner so EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to Oak Park coach Todd Clark who provides some insights on their 2024 campaign.
2023: 1st, Division Two premiers, (14W, 2L, 161.69%)
Coach: Todd Clark
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"We've been trying to get our game in order, make sure that we're able to set our defence up well and structure through there. We're under no disillusions, we know it's a step up – bigger sides, quicker sides.
"So we've been continually trying to hone our craft as most would be doing and like all clubs, we put a bit of work into the boys when they came back."
LIST SHAPE
"We had a few premiership players retire or move on but we're happy with our recruits – we think we've improved as a side overall. We're just wanting to keep everyone out on the park so we've put it on the players to take responsibility of their own body with physios and the like.
"There were a couple of areas we needed to address like our forward line where some of those departures were and key defence stocks.
"We still think that moving forward that we're in a better position and we'll see how far that takes us as we get into the season."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"Jedd Taylor had a fantastic year last year but he's built on that again, he's hardly missed a beat. Anthony De Lorenzi will continue to take that next step as well.
"They're two that have been training really hard but everyone has, no one's shirked the issue because they understand we have to put the work in to see how far we're going to go."
2024 OUTLOOK
"Without question we want to stay in Division One and we're confident in what we're doing right now – as we get through we'll see whether that's good enough or if we can push ourselves up a bit.
"For us, last year, when you're dominant in a division, you can get away with certain things and you don't see them but coming up now, we understand we can't do those things because we'll get touched up a bit."
ON THE RECORD WITH TODD CLARK
You first come on board when the club went down to Division Two, what differences can you see within the side from then to now?
I think there's been a higher level of professionalism in the way we go about our footy, not just going out there and riding by the seat of our pants! We're trying to become more and more disciplined and be predictable to each other. It's a journey for the players but it's a journey for the coaching staff as well.
So the professionalism and the hunger would be some key differences – we believed last year that we should be in Division One and now the boys are relishing the test!
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Jedd Taylor.
Biggest pest at the club?
There are a lot, some clowns among the group! Taylor Hotchkin the clear choice, though.
Who might be viewed as the coach's pet?
The young blokes are good at getting around you, Jake Bushell 's one. New recruit Tommy Lay is another!
One opposition player you’d love on your side?
Hard to go past Lachie Plowman (Maribyrnong Park).
Flag tip outside of Oak Park?
West Coburg.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Oliver Aitken (Coburg Districts), Jesse Hemmens (Sunshine), Jye Smith (Moama), Paul Pascu (Glenroy), Joshua Ksiazek (Glenroy), Thomas Lay (Coburg Districts), Jeremy Hill (Power House), Kane O'Halloran (Therry Penola), Rory MacGregor (Therry Penola), Leon Dias (Roxburgh Park), Winoll Dias (Roxburgh Park), Nash McRae (Strathmore), Adam Clemente (Pascoe Vale), Ellias Farah (Strathmore), Joseph Chalhoub (Strathmore), Graeme Whiting (Craigieburn), Dean Walsh (Romsey), Joseph Townsend-Booth (Spotswood), Caleb Tucker (Westmeadows), Liam Burgess (Hadfield), Can Demir (Westmeadows), Josh Henderson (Point Cook), Jordan Bicknell (Congupna), Aaron Speranza (St Bernards) & Luke Riccardi (St Bernards).
Out: Clayton McCartney (Woorinen), Taj McCartney (Tullamarine), Andrew Vaiano (Coburg Districts), Jye Piescik (Pascoe Vale), Jacob Atkins (Therry Penola), Ryan Smith (North London Lions), Sean Andrews (Westmeadows), Jack McCartney (Essendon Doutta Stars), Blake Morey (Dunnstown), Jonathan McCartney (Lalor), Thanavit Chotimanee (Avondale Heights), Jarred Barden (Wallan), Ryan Heaney (Hurstbridge) & Christian Scarpino (Pascoe Vale).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
Oak Park earnt themselves promotion back into Division One after a stellar season that saw them drop just two games on their way to a flag. There's always an element of the unknown when a side gets promoted and Oak Park will be no different. They do, however, enter 2024 with a side boasting Division One experience with a good mix of talent and experience that should see them competitive enough to stay out of the relegation battle and retain their spot in this division.
Ladder Prediction: Out of the relegation battle.
2024 FIXTURE
