EFL 2018: Recent Division 2 premiers Knox and Bayswater reveal struggles progessing to the top flight

ATTRACTING and retaining talent remains the greatest challenge for clubs with top-flight aspirations after the two most recent second-tier premiers have been demoted in the EFL.

Bayswater celebrates its 2016 triumph. Picture: Steve Tanner

ATTRACTING and retaining talent to compete against powerhouse clubs will remain the greatest challenge for sides with Division 1 aspirations.

The two most recent Eastern Football League Division 2 premiers have been relegated the year after promotion, succumbing to the challenge of adding and re-signing players willing to play top level local football.

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Bayswater won just two games last year after winning the 2016 Division 2 grand final by 107 points, while Knox logged its first win in Round 15 after knocking over East Ringwood.

The Falcons average losing margin has been 78 points after losing a host of under-19s and senior players to clubs in lower divisions, forfeiting their reserves in Round 12.

Knox president Jane Barbanti said there was a “massive difference” in the EFL’s top two competitions.

Knox won the Division 2 premiership a year after relegation from Division 1. Picture: David Smith/AAP

“We’d been up in Division 1 for nine years, 10 years, whatever it was … some of those older boys that had been around the club for quite a while — Scott Davis, Joel McGown, Luke Williams — they were going out there and getting smashed every week in Division 1,” Barbanti said.

“Once we went down to Division 2 and they had a fantastic year, you want to finish on a high.

“They still had it in the back of their minds what it was like playing Division 1 two years before so I think it probably comes down to, I can’t speak for Bayswater … but it was obvious that a lot of those players, the older more experienced players, it took a toll on the body.”

The success of Bayswater’s 2016 grand final romp was short-lived, lasting just a season in Division 1.

However, Rowville, Montrose, North Ringwood and Doncaster, who each won Division 2 premierships from 2012 to 2015, have remained in the top flight, with only North Ringwood not playing finals football.

Bayswater coach Paul McCormack said his side wanted to reward its premiership list with an opportunity to play in the top tier, only adding a handful of recruits.

“We lost about six players because … they thought ‘oh, we won’t get a game playing Division 1 and we just want to play local footy to have fun, it is too serious (Division 1)’,” McCormack said.

“It is a reward versus time argument, how much time do you want to put into your footy to be successful?”

McCormack said promoted clubs needed to recruit “with the idea that we’re definitely going to give it a crack”.

Bayswater coach Paul McCormack. Picture: James Ross/AAP

“Look at Vermont, they’d have six to 12 blokes who have played VFL footy and then you chuck in a couple of ex-AFL players … it is a bit of a gulf, in terms of talent goes, or attracting talent,” he said.

“It is harder for a club like Baysie … to attract talent, as opposed to Vermont or a Balwyn, Noble Park because it’s just the way it is.

“The most financial clubs can attract the best players, which means they’ve got the most talent, which means of course there is a gulf.”

McCormack said he hoped the introduction of the player points system and salary cap would help clubs be more competitive in the top tier.

“For example, (if) Doncaster East win a flag and went up next year, they’re in that situation where they’ve got to maintain the list to go up and that is the challenge,” he said.

“I think you’re still going to have a discrepancy because of the strong culture in these sides and they’ve got that sustained ability.”