The 2025 season is just around the corner so EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to Essendon Doutta Stars coach Barry Prendergast who provides some insights on their 2025 campaign.
2024: 8th (5W, 13L, 72.28%)
Coach: Barry Prendergast
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"Our biggest focus is continuing to be strong in the areas we have worked on the last couple of years, but also the front half and its connection to the rest of the team. We played with a new group there last year but it has settled now as we look to hit the scoreboard more.
"I think we were last in points scored so that is obvious and there have been plenty of lessons in the way we structure up and move the ball for us to work on."
LIST SHAPE
"We reshaped our list a lot in 2024. We are very young still with last year's team only having four or five blokes over the age of 23 each week.
"We’ve retained all our list who played significant roles so continuing our youth philosophy and tweaking the list with some required new additions has been our focus. Injecting some more speed has been a part of this."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"There's so much scope for improvement in this list so it’s a little unfair to mention a few. We have worked hard to build a strong base to launch from. We won't be throwing the team around a lot as we consolidate the considerable gains we feel we have made in 2024."
CLUB INITIATIVES & ACTIVITIES
"We did a lot of work in 2024 with our leadership and connection to and within the club. This was very important with such a young list and a lot of new players especially in the senior team.
"We worked with Gavin Brown who led this to introduce important club values that we need to live throughout the club, in a one-club philosophy. This work will continue in 2025 and is ongoing."
2025 OUTLOOK
"We need to keep building and do it in a sustainable manner that preserves the cultural shift we have seen in the last couple of years. Our increased competitiveness was obvious last year but we need to transfer that into more wins. We had a percentage increase of 20 last year for no more wins than in 2023, but we know we are moving forward and what we need to do to maintain that."
ON THE RECORD WITH BARRY PRENDERGAST
Who is the unsung hero at the club?
Connor Thompson.
Player most likely to become a coach one day?
Dylan Laurie.
Who has the quickest set of wheels?
Dalton Comito.
Who’s Mr. Reliable week in and week out?
Pete Ntalianis.
Favourite piece of coaching wisdom?
The harder I work the luckier I get.
What match are you most looking forward to in 2025 and why?
Round 1 – can't wait to see the results of our hard work and the starting point to build off.
Flag tip outside of Essendon Doutta Stars?
Keilor.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Muoteer Reech (East Fremantle), Axel Nemler (Moonee Valley), Matthew Hadeed (Craigieburn), Ben Thomson (Old Scotch), Lucas Myszka (Keilor), Archer Beattie (Aberfeldie), Max Anderson (Wallan), Zac Bateman (Maribyrnong Park), Brock Evans (Maribyrnong Park), Blake Vidler (Keilor), John Roumeliotis (Airport West), Leo Anderson (Aberfeldie), Benjamin Mazziol (Keilor), Thomas Legudi (Aberfeldie), Lachie Hall (Glenelg), Oliver Nockles (Pennant Hills Demons).
Out: Anthony Randello (Braybrook), Lewis Downie (Park Orchards), Joshua Blake (Glenroy), Alex Torcia (Sunshine), Carmelo Sposato (Mernda), Andre Jaycock (Brunswick), Daniel Carey (Box Hill North), Blake Taylor (Albion), Noah Smallacombe (Lancefield), George Romios (Ballan).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
Essendon Doutta Stars will again be full of young talent and looking to improve on its 2024 season. Barry Prendergast's side has seen continual improvement under his leadership, and will be hoping the way they pushed and surprised sides last year can convert to more than honourable losses. Significant strides up the ladder will need significant improvement considering the strength and improvement of sides above them, but you feel what they're building should hold them in good stead for years to come.
Ladder Prediction: Mid-lower end.
