EFNL 2021: Norwood starts season 2-0 for the first time since 2014

Norwood coach Marty Pask explains why his side has enjoyed its best start to a season in years, sitting atop the EFNL Premier ladder.

Rhett Jordon booted four goals in the weekend’s win over Balwyn. Picture: Field of View

Norwood has enjoyed its best start to a season in seven years, and coach Marty Pask says it’s largely owing to a galvanised group embracing change.

The Norsemen have started the season 2-0 for the first time since 2014, following strong wins over North Ringwood and Balwyn, kickstarting their campaign sitting atop the Premier Division ladder.

There’s been a significant influx of new names to land at the club since 2019, headlined by ex-VFL Port Melbourne crew Blake Pearson, Michael Wenn and Daniel Beddison committing full-time, alongside Box Hill premiership name Tom Maloney.

Blake Pearson has had no trouble finding the goals this season, kicking five in Round 1 and two in Round 2. Picture: AAP/Julian Smith

It’s signalled a new era at Mullum Mullum Reserve, with key premiership personnel Leigh Williams (Seville), Matt Aver (Aquinas) and Stuart Hill (Upwey-Tecoma) moving on since the break.

Pask said this season’s on-field results to date reflected a mountain of work undertaken off the field across a long period.

“We were really strategic in the type of people we wanted to bring to our footy club, and the blessing for us is a lot of these guys had been aligned to us previously via the VFL connection,” he said.

“What we were hoping to achieve whether it was Blake Pearson, Tom Maloney or Daniel Beddison, was that when they were prepared to retire from VFL, they’d call us home full-time.

“It was an investment in them and an investment in us – and in the end, the marriage has worked.

“We wanted to build a really good culture and a place where people want to be and play their footy, and that’s been the most pleasing thing from my aspect.”

Pask has overseen significant change at Norwood.

And while the vast change in personnel may have brought about uncertainty with the farewelling of long-time club champions, Pask said it’s a shift the club has embraced as it hunts its first finals appearance since 2015.

“When you go through change, it’s unpredictable and it can be viewed one of two ways – change a lot of the time can bring fear or apprehension, or it can bring excitement, enthusiasm and opportunity, and in many respects it’s how you want it to be,” he said.

“From my point of view, we’ve tried to generate something different and something new.

“The reality of the situation is we haven’t played finals for six years, and we’re still on this journey of where we want to get to.”

Pask heralded his back six in the weekend’s 26-point victory, holding a formidable Tiger outfit to five majors, in a forward half which includes gun names Jordan Lisle, Jeff Gobbels and James Freeman.

Former East Ringwood star Tristan Tweedie headlined that, alongside emerging talent Dan Young and seasoned performer Jesse Newman. Pask also commended Liam Daly for his performance on Balwyn livewire Yarran Jaffer-Williams.

Tristan Tweedie lunges for a mark against Vermont in 2019. Picture: Field of View

“It (Balwyn’s forward half) is arguably one of the best in the comp … (and our defence) was just a really good cohesive back unit,” Pask said.

“It was just about backing in our strengths and what we do well – I’ve got full confidence in our back six. Tristan Tweedie is one of our leaders, and I’ve got no problems throwing him big roles to do because I know he’ll do it well.”

The Norsemen have the bye this week followed by Noble Park in Round 4, and while still only early in the season, Pask said high expectations remained a key driver in his club’s pursuit to climb the ladder.

Norwood has finished no higher than sixth in the past four seasons.

“In eras gone past, there might have been too much left to too few, and we want to make sure we’ve got an equal contribution from everybody,” he said.

“We’re really clear on expectations and what it means to play for our football club.

“We’ve still got a long way to go to earn the trust of the competition in terms of our consistency and where we’re at, but as long as we’re trusting ourselves and what we’re doing, all those sorts of things will take care of themselves.”