EFNL 2023: How ex-AFL name Darren Minchington will lift Beaconsfield

The Eagles’ coach is confident his recent signings can help bridge the gap on the club’s Eastern Division 1 rivals, headlined by a former AFL name.

BEACONSFIELD coach Mick Fogarty is confident his recent acquisitions will help bridge the gap on rivals, following the signings of an ex-AFL name and SANFL talent.

Former Saint and Hawk Darren Minchington and Sturt young gun Josh Mounter have linked with the Eagles after the club finished seventh with a 6-12 record in the Eastern league’s Division 1 last year.

Minchington played 32 AFL matches across St Kilda and Hawthorn from 2012-2020 and Fogarty expects the 29-year-old to address a deficiency through the Eagles’ midfield.

“We found in Division 1 last year that we were getting pretty easily knocked off around the footy, and we were getting beaten around the contest,” Fogarty said.

“Identifying some bigger-bodied mids was the way to go and to get someone like Minchington will really help us out, as well as going forward (with him) pinch hitting down there.

“We’ve got him to play that role for us which is fantastic.”

Darren Minchington in action for the Saints. Picture: Michael Klein

Former Dandenong Stingray Mounter returns to Beaconsfield where he also played his junior football, reuniting with Fogarty after a handful of senior appearances in 2021.

The 20-year-old nominated for the AFL’s mid-season draft in 2021 before heading over to South Australia in ’22 where he featured in four games for Sturt’s reserves.

The coach says Mounter’s running and versatility would add plenty to the group.

“He played four games with me (at Beaconsfield) a couple of years ago – the first four before he hurt himself and then we got interrupted by Covid,” Fogarty said.

“He’s a really good endurance runner, uses his endurance all over the ground really well. He can play half-back, wing, midfield, and we’re just rapt to be able to get him back to our footy club as well.

“He adds a lot of class and a lot of leadership.”

Beaconsfield lost four matches by 11 points or under in its maiden season in the Eastern league’s second tier after crossing from the Outer East league’s top-flight.

“If we were able to close them up a bit we would’ve been playing finals, but realistically, we were off the top teams,” Fogarty said.

“Getting into a really strong competition, I was really pleased with how we acquitted ourselves and we were more than competitive.”

Beaconsfield opens its season away to Mitcham on Saturday, April 1.