BFL 2023: Inside Newcomb Power’s bid for success as host of players recommit for 2024

Newcomb is putting its focus towards 2024, with some new recruits and a host of talented players already signed on. See the full list here.

Newcomb has recorded two wins in a row. Picture: Mark Wilson

It had been a long 13 long months since Newcomb had recorded back-to-back BFL victories.

That was until Saturday’s statement 53-point win on the road against Queenscliff, which followed a convincing ten-goal triumph over Portarlington, seeing the Power’s total wins for the season triple from one to three in the past fortnight.

The Power still sit in second-last spot on the ladder, but the mood is positive at Grinter Reserve: a host of the Power’s young playing group have re-signed, recruiting targets have been locked in for 2024 and the club is learning how to win.

But new coach Tony Mirabella, who stepped into the top job last month after the resignation of Mitch Troy, is well aware that the club still has a long way to go before it earns the respect of the competition back.

He believes the wins are the fruits of the hard work that has been put in on and off the field in the past one to two years, before he joined the club as midfield coach for the 2023 season.

“It’s obviously very pleasing but probably moreso for the work that has gone on off-field in the past 12 months, couple of years,” Mirabella said.

“It’s not just the last two weeks it has been building for a long time and it’s only really one step winning a couple of games, we still have a lot more that we need to do before we get the respect from the league. There is a long way to go but there’s no doubt that winning a couple of games in a row is a nice way to take another step forward.”

“I think that there’s nothing more important than learning how to win, and that is what the club has been working towards all year.”

“I think learning from the other sides that are doing really well. You need to pay a lot of respect to clubs like Barwon Heads, Drysdale and Torquay and the way that they go about games week in week out in terms of attitude, in terms of their relentless approach to a winning culture, there’s so much for a club that has a young group to take from those games that we play against those clubs from a learning perspective.”

The Power hasn’t been to a grand final since it made three consecutive deciders from 2005-07, winning two premierships in that period.

But these two wins can act as a springboard to launch the club into 2024 and beyond.

Tony Mirabella was appointed as coach last month.

RECRUITING DRIVE

The club has been busy planning ahead for next season.

The Power has re-signed 15 players, while several new recruits and two assistant coaches have also put pen to paper for 2024, which the club is keeping under wraps for now.

Mirabella believes the commitment from the playing group is a sign of the direction the club is heading in.

“I think it is just a progression – I’m not keen to compare what went on with the coach previously, that’s unfair because what he put in place is really important and really future focused. More than anything the young group that we have got are binding together – we have re-signed 90 per cent of our current list for next year and that says a lot about the direction our club is going,” he said.

“We are on a heavy recruitment drive for 2024 which is going really positively.”

YOUNG GUNS

In another promising sign for the future it has been the Power’s youngsters standing up in their wins in the last two weeks.

Jack Walsh, Charlie Harvey, Thewin Robinson, Tom Webster and Jack Drought – all under the age of 22 – are among the names for Power fans to get excited about.

Midfield speedsters Walsh and Harvey in particular have been standouts, with the two Portland products making a significant impact since joining the club.

Charlie Harvey has impressed for the Power. Picture: Mark Wilson

Newcomb is hopeful of claiming more wins in the final few rounds but will have their work cut out for them up against top-six sides Drysdale, Modewarre and Barwon Heads.

But regardless of the win-loss at season’s end, the focus from the Power will be laying the foundations for 2024.

“In the last few weeks it is our youth, our 18-21 year olds that have been outstanding,” Mirabella said.

“The goal from here is that we are putting in the work to set-up 2024. The clubs are aware of that, the players are aware of that and with that work we hope comes more scalps in the last three games. We have got three of the top six teams in the last six games and there’s not a better opportunity to go out and keep working towards developing that winning culture.”

Originally published as BFL 2023: Inside Newcomb Power’s bid for success as host of players recommit for 2024