The 2025 season is just around the corner so EDFL Media will be previewing each club heading into Round One. Next, we chat to West Coburg coach Mark Micklethwait who provides some insights on their 2025 campaign.
2024: 2nd (14W, 2L, 201.23%)
Coach: Mark Micklethwait
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"Re-establishing our Under 18.5 team, refreshing the current list, and bringing as many former West Coburg Players as we can back to the club has been the focus this pre-season. Whether you have played one game or over 100 games at the club, we want you all back!
"Daniel Barnes has left the playing group in really great shape after an exceptional season last year."
LIST SHAPE
"We would like to think we've recruited well, but every club recruits so until we play them all we won’t know. Overall we are very happy with where we are at as a club and the direction that we are going.
"We have added some very exciting young talent to the list that will be given opportunities to play senior football and have some experienced players returning. The reserves were premiers last year so there are a lot of talented players in that group."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"We have our tried and true players who perform weekly in Tom Baravi, Dinny and Ruari Cleary, Liam Bowkett, Jonah Horo, to name a few. Emilio Rinaudo has had a massive pre-season with Coburg VFL and we are expecting that to transition into his game this season.
"We still have a couple of surprises up our sleeve which is exciting."
CLUB INITIATIVES & ACTIVITIES
"To be honest this is one area that doesn’t require a lot of work from myself. The leaders at the club have displayed and shown that they do an amazing job in bringing this group together. It truly is very humbling to see the connection between the whole senior squad."
2025 OUTLOOK
"To perform at a consistent level weekly and to see our Under 18.5 boys put a couple of wins on the board would be awesome."
ON THE RECORD WITH MARK MICKLETHWAIT
Who is the unsung hero at the club?
Ian Allan, Bernie Kirby, and Sean McKernan are three that come to mind quickly. All committee members and volunteers both past and present that spend numerous hours at the club to make it what it is. And of course my kids Koby and Tahli who are at every training session filling up water bottles and helping me set up training.
MVP of the gym?
I could nearly name our entire list here, they all love it. It’s hard to keep tops on at training. Some of our Under 18.5 boys have had massive pre-seasons. Ruari Cleary is the clubhouse leader in my opinion.
Player most likely to become a coach one day?
Emilio Rinaudo.
Who has the quickest set of wheels?
Perry Patrikios and Reed Cathcart come to mind.
Favourite piece of coaching wisdom?
Keep getting better.
Who’s one opposition player you’d love on your side?
Any former West Coburg junior!
What match are you most looking forward to in 2025 and why?
All of them, can’t wait for the season to start.
Flag tip outside of West Coburg?
Collingwood.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Mitchell Williams (Blackburn), Marwan Abdul-Wahed (Northern Saints), Dominic Mancino (Coburg Districts), Nate Smith (Strathmore), Omar Abou-Eid (Pascoe Vale), Sebastian Speranza (Preston Bullants).
Out: Ibrahim Taha (Pascoe Vale), Damien Watson (Therry Penola), Alex El-Nabbout (Northern Saints), Riley Skazas (Northcote Park), Benjamin Drummond (Westmeadows), Darcy Troy (St Kilda City), Thomas McRostie (Coburg Districts), Luke Baniowski (Thomastown), Blake Ross (Thomastown), Omar Saad (Newport), Muhammad Saad (Newport).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
It was a third consecutive grand final appearance for West Coburg in 2024 after another dominant season. The Burgers have lost five players from their 2024 grand final side, including some offensive firepower that will take some replacing in Ibby Taha, Omar Saad, and Muhammad Saad who combined for 168 goals in 2024. Despite these losses, there is still so much top-end talent in this West Coburg outfit that you'd expect to see them playing finals and potentially fighting for the double chance. Incoming coach Mark Micklethwait will have a strong list at his disposal, but where West Coburg's goals come from will be one to watch.
Ladder Prediction: Finals.
