EDFL 2018: Paul Chapman’s Greenvale learns from last year’s Premier Division grand final loss

Greenvale has undergone a change in identity in 2018 and has looked to find a better balance between offence and defence after falling short of the ultimate prize last year.

Greenvale skipper Addam Maric has had an injury-interrupted season. Picture: David Smith

GREENVALE boasted the most potent attack in Essendon District Football League Premier Division last season.

Comfortably the competition’s highest-scoring team under first-year coach Paul Chapman, the Jets progressed to the decider and suffered a crushing defeat against Aberfeldie.

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The side has undergone a change in identity in 2018 and has looked to find a better balance between offence and defence.

Greenvale will start its finals campaign this weekend and finished the home-and-away rounds sixth in points for, underlining its transformation.

“We learnt a little bit from the grand final last year,” Chapman said.

“It’s good to kick a lot of goals, but if you can’t defend that well, then it’s going to hurt you.

“It’s been a real focus for us and we’ve probably turned ourselves into a bit more of a defensive pressure team first. We realise finals is played on a smaller ground too, so we’ve tried to turn ourselves into a quality small-ground team that can apply that pressure.

“We feel like we’re in a good position, but there are a lot of teams that are hitting form at the right time.”

The Jets’ ability to score has not been helped by skipper Adam Maric’s fitness issues, while Jacob Thompson has also had an interrupted season.

Greenvale coach Paul Chapman calls the shots. Picture: Hamish Blair

But they are slowly assembling their best line-up, with Maric and Nat Caruso returning in recent weeks, while Chris Farchione, Matt Stillman and David Sardo should return in time for finals.

“It’s a good spot to be in because selection becomes a lot tougher and it makes it a lot harder for the coaches, but it’s a lot healthier for our list and for our footy club,” Chapman said.

“Right now it’s been a good year for us in that we’ve made finals. Not many people I think believed we were probably capable, but internally we believed. Last year we had no injuries until we hit the finals and then we got bombarded with them.

“This year we’ve struggled to get our best team on the park, and probably haven’t got our best team on the park this year. We feel like it’s slowly coming together.”

Chapman is wary of his side’s flag rivals, with Keilor, Strathmore and Aberfeldie all in red-hot form.

The Jets will meet the Mores in an elimination final on Sunday after finishing in fourth spot.

“Like any good competition, you’ve got to be at your best every week from here, and that’s our challenge,” Chapman said.