Youth on the agenda for Eagles

Lachie Modica is one to keep an eye on in 2020. 197750 Picture: ROB CAREW

By Nick Creely

Youth will be high on the agenda as Beaconsfield steadily prepares for the 2020 AFL Outer East Premier Division season.

After a string of departures from its senior group to rival leagues in the off-season, the Eagles will certainly be youthful in 2020, but still featuring plenty of class and experience running around Holm Park to lead the charge.

With two-time ex-Noble Park premiership mentor Mick Fogarty on board as the club’s new senior coach, the Eagles are learning a new craft in the midst of pre-season, with the highly-regarded coach expected to have his side playing an entertaining brand of football.

Fogarty told the Gazette that while there could be some challenges for his side in 2020, the opportunity to push through some talented kids is one that will help bring the club forward.

“It’s (pre-season) been pretty solid – the boys are adhering to what we’re trying to teach them and how I see the game,” he said.

“But the numbers are a bit down. We’ve lost a fair few to other leagues, which is a bit disappointing, but we move on pretty quickly.

“We know we’ve got a really strong core of players that represent the Beacy footy club.

“Our depth will probably be tested a bit this year but we’ve got kids coming through. But we’re quite satisfied with how things are going along at the moment.”

The Eagles are renowned for the strength of its junior program, and were runners-up in the Under 18s in 2019, but also enjoyed stunning success in the latter stages of the SEFNL and continue to build its talent in the South East Juniors.

Fogarty said while its evident that the Eagles are blessed with plenty of kids capable of becoming excellent senior footballers, patience is the key moving forward.

“You can see it on the track, it’s exciting for the club but it can take time,” Fogarty said.

“You can identify talent, but at the end of the day you still have to be a bit careful on the decisions you make bringing a kid into senior footy and exposing them too early.

“There are quite a few things we have to do to make sure the kid is right to go.

“We’re really excited by the youth coming through, and we’re in a good position over the next few years, but it could take a couple of years.”

The Eagles have brought in ex-St Kilda defender Brandon White after four years and 11 games at AFL level, with the 2014 Beaconsfield premiership star a huge addition to the club.

White capped off 2019 by winning Sandringham’s best and fairest in the VFL after a stellar season in the state-league.

Another strong inclusion will be ex-Gold Coast utility and current Casey Demon Jack Hutchins, who is expected to play a handful of games for the club in another boost of experience as the club continues to build a strong relationship with the VFL club at Casey Fields.

Hutchins – who played 19 games at AFL level for the Suns between 2011 and 2014 – captained the Casey Demons to great success previously.

The Eagles have also re-signed a strong senior core with the likes of Cory Walker, Jack Griffiths, Scott Meyer, Daniel Johnston, Damien Johnston, Jake Bowd and Sean Dwyer all putting pen to paper, while Eagle trio Lachie Modica, Matthew Johnson and Jimmy Munro will also form part of the senior side when not at VFL level for the Demons.

Fogarty said it was pleasing to see many of his players aligned with VFL football, and hopes that the inclusion of Hutchins will help benefit his young group.

“I’ve seen it at Noble Park – it’s great for guys like Lachie (Modica) and Matt (Johnson) who had strong years at senior footy and have gone down and acquitted themselves well, and their training standards are high.

“When they don’t get a game at Casey we’ll have them which is great – obviously getting Jack Hutchins is a massive signing for the club. I tried to get him over to Noble Park a few years ago and failed so its massive.

“Having him on board is enormous for our footy club – we’re young and his experience is important, and while we don’t know how many games he’ll play it’s great.

“We’re still on the hunt for a couple more, it is late, it’s February, but we’re still on the hunt – we’ll see what happens.”

The Eagles take on Cranbourne at Casey Fields on Good Friday, Friday 10 April to kick off its season.