Round One might be in the books, but scouting ahead at each club's season outlook doesn't stop. We chat to Tullamarine coach Dave Connell who provides some insights on what their 2024 campaign will look like.
2023: 9th (6W, 12L, 74.2%)
Coach: Dave Connell
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"It's cliche I know but fitness has been key. The group, for one reason or another, definitely wasn't fit last year. I've been coaching senior footy for 16 years now and it's definitely been the hardest preseason that I've run. Outside of that, we've had a fairly significant gameplan change as well so we've added in a lot of structure stuff and been working on it from day one.
"So there's been a big focus on fitness and a big focus on re-education of how we want to go about it."
LIST SHAPE
"It's a lot better than what it was! The need was definitely for a ruck. We had Alessio Gobbo in 2022, Shaun (McKernan) who went to Bundoora and is now at Strathmore, and Adam Scott retired. So we were really healthy in those ruck stocks, but unfortunately in the space of one season we've gone from three quality rucks to having none! Our main target was Mick Sikora from day one – we had some connections through the club and I thought it was a win-win for both of us because he's not getting any younger. Luke Rowland fell into our lap a little bit so that helped strengthen up that area!
"Losing Prestia and Liberatore from the previous year, we hadn't really replaced those midfielders, so getting Nicholas Papakalodoukas across from St Kilda City and obviously Jake Long after Christmas has addressed that area. Outside of that we just wanted quality players and quality people in to try and make the senior list bat a bit deeper than it did last year."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"In terms of the recruits, Jake Long. Without stating the obvious he's probably the main one to watch. He's pretty special and his form in the practice matches has been spot on! Even what he can bring to the table from a leadership and education point of view has been fantastic for us. He'll no doubt be one of the premier players in the competition.
"A younger guy that's gone on with it, Austin Warden came into our side last year fresh out of the 18s and was the only player on our list to play every game. His preseason has been great and he was probably best on in our practice match.
"You'll see a return to 2022 form for guys like Steve Vocale and James Vistarini. They're both fully fit and had a full preseason. With some better players around them, I'm pretty confident you'll see the good footy we've come to expect from them."
2024 OUTLOOK
"We want to be playing finals like everyone else does, but we just want to be relevant again. I think a lot of the guys take for granted, especially those that have been at Tulla during my time, that finals footy is a constant and maybe we didn't appreciate it enough.
"So, not taking anything for granted is key. The group's super hungry to return to where we were and we want the respect back that we dented a fair bit last year."
ON THE RECORD WITH DAVE CONNELL
You resumed as head coach midway through last season and had a positive finish to the year. What can you take away from those games that would've no doubt lifted the group?
Definitely some resilience. As a group we'll be much stronger for what we went through last year. Guys that have been in the senior side for a number of years that have been able to float in the shadows of your Prestia's, Liberatore's, and McKernan's had to really step up in the back half of last year. Guys like Daniel Devine and Steve Vocale really put the club on their shoulders and took ownership and others certainly followed.
The resilience of the group was tested and questioned in the back half of last year and I thought we ticked a lot of boxes.
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Jake Long.
Biggest pest at the club?
Definitely Dom Micallef!
Who might be viewed as the coach's pet?
I've had it for five years, Timmy Matson!
One opposition player you’d love on your side?
I'm a big fan of Tom Baravi (West Coburg).
Flag tip outside of Tullamarine?
West Coburg.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Michael Sikora (Pascoe Vale), Luke Rowland (Essendon Doutta Stars), Taj McCartney (Oak Park), Jake Long (Bacchus Marsh), Joel Flanigan (Brunswick), Lachlan Hind (Westbourne Grammar), Nicholas Papakalodoukas (St Kilda City), Brad Hordan (Edwardstown), Ethan Berger (Keilor Park), Shannon Prigg (Airport West), Joey Greto (Keilor Park), Matthew Esposito (South Morang), Theo Letsos (Greenvale), Shaun Colasante (Keilor Park), Lleyton Oden (St Albans), Jordan Hurley (Craigieburn), Johnny Quach (Narre South) & Mason Taylor (Anakie).
Out: Dean Simmons (Parkside), Oliver Klemm (Northern Saints), Michael Dalrymple (East Keilor), Dylan Watts (Greenvale), Jordan Drummond (Greenvale), Zen Sell (Strathmore), Dylan Birdo (Taylors Lakes) & Cooper Watts (Brunswick).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
It was a disjointed season for Tullamarine with Dave Connell replacing Ben Tankard throughout the season, but Tulla will be confident they can carry the momentum they built in the backend of 2023 to this season. They've recruited well and their top end are expected to be fitter and less interrupted than they were last season which should see Tulla getting closer to where they've been for so long.
Ladder Prediction: Mid-table.
2024 FIXTURE
