Outer East: Wandin coach Nick Adam sets grand final expectation

Wandin coach Nick Adam isn’t hiding his expectations of a grand final appearance for his side with two big recruits bolstering the Bulldogs.

AFL Yarra Ranges (Division 1): Olinda Ferny Creek v Wandin 15 Brad Harvey marks for Wandin. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Wandin coach Nick Adam has set the bar of expectation for his group at nothing short of a grand final appearance in 2023.

Since falling agonisingly short of the Outer East grand final last season, the Bulldogs have added proven Lilydale forward Jordan Jaworski and welcomed back former premiership player Brad Harvey.

Combined with the natural growth of his young stars, Adam is no longer “hopeful” in the ability of his unit and instead expects them to be there when the whips are cracking.

“The biggest difference this year is that there is expectation,” he said.

“Wandin Football Club is a club that expects to be in those situations and off the back of 2021 – which was a disappointing year – we were hopeful in 2022, based on what we brought in.

“But this year we go in expecting to be there at that point end of the year, to a point, if I am not coaching on grand final day, I’ll be really disappointed.”

Former Lilydale forward Jordan Jaworski will lace up for Wandin in 2023. Photo: Hamish Blair

While the additions of Jaworski and James were an imperative part of Wandin’s pre-season, Adam is anticipating internal progression from some of his brightest young stars.

“We have talked about this a lot, four or five of our most talented players are 23, 24 or under,” he said.

“So, adding some more experience around what is a young group – particularly when you’re comparing them to Narre Warren – it was a focus for us.

“We are pretty comfortable with what we’ve done so far, and we think we will get a natural progression out of the guys.

“There’s no better way to develop than repetition … this young core has got to experience what it feels like to win, or play in these big games, against Narre Warren, Woori Yallock, to win one and then obviously to lose a really disappointing one at Healesville in the prelim.

“There will be natural growth, we are proud of the program that we run and the systems we have in place, we’re bullish about what 2023 will look like for us.”

Brad Harvey has returned to the club. Picture: Mike Dugdale

Combining its late April start and the intention of playing on the final day of the season, Wandin has adopted a unique training method.

Instead of putting the players through their paces before the holidays, Adam is comfortable with his Bulldogs returning to the training track in late January.

“Our first game is on April 23, so we come back at the end of January and we still have three months before we play footy,” he said.

“There’s a balance between having them fit and having them footy ready, that’s probably mentally as much as physically, it’s (already) a long summer when you start at the beginning of April.

“I think when we’re teeing off on April 23, we have to be mindful that we have them ready physically and mentally at that point and not in the second week of March.”

Wandin has also pieced together an under-19s side as it prepares take on Mt Evelyn on April 23.