EFNL 2022: Why Fairpark can bounce back

The Lions survived relegation by a whisker last season but the coach is confident his group can rebound in 2022.

It was granted a lifeline following last season, but Fairpark coach Sean Stanton is confident his group can rebound in Division 3 in 2022.

The Lions were spared relegation to Division 4 after it recorded just one win from 11 starts last year.

They were promoted from Division 4 in 2019 when they won the flag, and 2021 marked the club’s first season in Division 3 since 1996.

And there’s been plenty of movement at the club this off-season as it prepares for another crack at Division 3.

Brad Nied in action for Fairpark. Picture: Craig Dooley

The Lions have lost experienced names in key defender Brodie Yapp who has returned to Koo Wee Rup, alongside midfielder Luke Walker (West Gippsland FL) and key position forward Mitch Collins who has relocated interstate.

But they’ve added tall defender Nick Macente from Garfield, who has played the past three seasons with the West Gippsland league club.

Mitchell Dole (Rowville), Cooper Hayman (Upper Gully), Ben Gilling and Bayley Carlin (Mulgrave) have also lodged transfers to join the Lions.

Premiership players Mitch Nied and Josh Temple are also set to return after missing matches through injury last year.

“We’ll be a different looking team this year – we’ll be a lot younger which will be a good thing for the club,” Stanton said.

“If we can stay fit, we’re hoping we’ll be really competitive, and where that leads us in the scheme of things it’s a bit of an unknown.”

Young guns Mason Byrne and Cody Morrison have been elevated to the leadership group after breakout seasons in the seniors, while Stanton also pointed to Ben Lees and Dale Bent as emerging talents to watch.

“They’ve come back really enthusiastic, then we still have the likes of (Kyle) Hird, the Nied boys, Ben McLeod, (Efstratos) Doulgeris, it’s exciting,” Stanton said.

“We want to make sure our players are fit and healthy and we’ve tried to prepare as best we can – we’ve put in a lot of groundwork.”

Fairpank coach Sean Stanton and captain Jesse Pearce lift the 2019 Division 4 cup. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Stanton says the relegation reprieve has been seldom spoken about, with the players needing little reminder of the opportunity it has to make an impression this season.

“They’re well aware of it, but I felt that in the majority of our games last year we were really competitive, the scoreboard didn’t always reflect that,” he said.

“Hopefully with some natural improvement in our existing group and particularly the young kids and with three or four guys coming in off the street who look like they’ll offer something to our senior squad, we’re hoping we can win enough games not only to avoid relegation but to push for finals.”

“I’m really excited about the year ahead.”

Fairpark takes on Ferntree Gully away in Round 1 on April 2.