EFL 2019: Swag of one-point players return to Ferntree Gully ahead of Eastern Football League season
Ferntree Gully has been busy building its list for a return to Eastern Football League finals, with several former players returning to the club.
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Ferntree Gully has been busy building its list for a return to Eastern Football League finals, with several former players returning to the club.
The Eagles are looking forward to the Division 3 season with anticipation after the return of Jess Moore (Bayswater), 2017 Division 4 best and fairest winner Sean Currey (Kilsyth), multiple club best and fairest winner Danny De Ieso (Scoresby), Hayden Lovat (Kilsyth) and Michael Russo (Kilsyth).
Each return as a one-point player, while Moore will also serve as a playing assistant coach.
Ferntree Gully has also secured David Eddy (Bayswater) and Luke Allison (Park Orchards) as it vies for its first finals appearance since the 2016 Division 4 premiership.
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“They’re all good inclusions for us because six of the seven are homegrown boys and they’ve come back to serve the footy club after they’ve all gone and played mostly first and second division footy,” Ferntree Gully coach Peter Farrell said.
“They all bring with them some leadership, which is an ingredient we lacked last year on the field.”
After the recent departures of Billy Morrison, Simon Godfrey and Jye Goodman, Farrell said his side needed an injection of experience.
“To be quite honest, it’s evolved that way and we’re really happy about it,” he said of the additions.
“It wasn’t a deliberate target to go and get past players back but we have kept in touch with most of these guys through the journey and they knew the door was always open if the time came and they wanted to come back to the footy club.”
Of the departures, forward Lachlan Kennedy has linked up with Premier division club Norwood, Nick Hallo has joined The Basin and Knox premiership player Jared Lepore has returned to the Falcons.
Ferntree Gully was one of six sides relegated to the fourth tier for 2019 as part of the competition restructure, finishing with a 5-13 record last year.
Farrell said the Eagles’ ambition was to crack a top-four berth.
“There are a lot of good players coming into the competition, we look at South Belgrave and Warrandyte, there’s some real quality players coming in,” he said.
“Our goal will be to play finals footy and see where we go from there but that feels like a long way away at the moment.
“I think everyone is going to have the same belief and hope … I think the restructure of the competition is only a positive thing for all divisions.
“We’ve got an eight-team competition and four teams are going to play finals so it gives you some real hope and motivation. It’s good for footy.”
Ferntree Gully opens its season under lights at Wally Tew Reserve against South Belgrave on April 6.
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