EFNL 2022: How “stars aligned” for Templestowe recruiting coup

It’s been a busy off-season for the Dockers signing a package of gun recruits from higher divisions, after narrowly missing the Division 2 finals ...

It fell agonisingly short of the finals this season – but Templestowe’s recent package of recruits has it poised to bounce back.

Ruckman Beau Mitchener headlines the Dockers’ haul, crossing from Lilydale alongside defender Doug Wootten and midfielder Jarrod Healy (Rowville). All three featured in Lilydale's 2018 grand final side in the league’s second tier.

Templestowe senior coach Anthony McGregor said Mitchener’s inclusion significantly addressed the need to fill the No. 1 ruck position, after the club missed the finals by percentage this year.

The former Eastern Ranges talent played more than 100 matches for Lilydale, taking in a best-and-fairest in 2016, six Team of the Year gongs and three top-three finishes in the league’s Division 1 medal.

Beau Mitchener will address the Dockers’ ruck void next season. Picture: Field of View Photography

“I wouldn’t call it our Achilles heel, but one of our issues was our key ruck position, we had a couple of young fellas vying for that position … none were key ruck types which could dominate a game and were all in the tuition stage,” McGregor said.

“But to sign Beau, how that came about was (Templestowe player) Jai Hardwick, his brother Blake and Beau are best mates so Jai has hung around that group for a long period of time and the connection of Beau playing with Jai was a strong attraction and one that had been spoken about.

“The stars aligned for us, it all fell into place, and we couldn’t be happier.”

McGregor expects Mitchener’s experience to help fast track the development of the emerging ruck prospects.

“That’ll give a Bailey Watson and a Max Taratuta to learn from an experienced ruckman as well and gives them time to grow in that position,” he said.

Healy played 11 senior matches with the Hawks in Premier Division across the past two campaigns.

He previously served as Lilydale vice-captain in the league’s second tier, finishing runner-up for the club’s best and fairest in ’16.

He was listed with the Eastern Ranges from 2012 to 2014 before a stop at Port Melbourne in 2015.

“He’s got a young family, he’s a ripping fella and the type of person you want in a footy club … quiet, but his football speaks for itself,” McGregor said.

“That came about with the mateship of Beau Mitchener, they’re quite close friends – it’s a great result for our footy club.

“I’m sure he’ll be a leader by actions and for our young list, it’s huge for us.”

Wootten spent four years at the Falcons from 2018 to 2022, after 54 matches for Outer East club Mount Evelyn from 2013 to ’17.

McGregor said the full-back would combine nicely with returning defender Shaun McMillan who missed most of the 2022 campaign due to a knee injury.

“He (Doug) is an absolute competitor, and I’ve watched quite a lot of Lilydale’s games … he’s relentless, hard and pair him with Shaun McMillan who’s coming back, it’s starting to look ominous,” McGregor said.

The Dockers have retained most of their key names including ex-AFL man and forward Cameron Cloke and inside midfielder Jai Hardwick.

McGregor lauded the recruiting work undertaken behind the scenes at Porter St.

“The two Bain brothers (Ryan and Matt) who are doing the recruiting have done an enormous job over the last couple of years,” he said.

“They see Tempy in a direction and a place we want to get to, it is becoming a bit of a destination club where people can grow and get an opportunity.”