EFNL 2024: New Chirnside Park coach Justin Ficorilli’s call to players

The bitter disappointment of a straight-sets Division 4 finals exit will drive new Chirnside Park coach Justin Ficorilli and his group this off-season. And there’s already been a key signing ...

Justin Ficorilli will coach Chirnside Park next season. Picture: Field of View Photography

Let it burn, the new coach declares.

Recently appointed Chirnside Park mentor Justin Ficorilli says his side’s straight-sets exit from the Eastern league Division 4 finals has lit a fire among his group for next season.

The abrupt ending to its premiership campaign followed a home-and-away season which yielded a 13-3 record – finishing second on percentage to eventual premier Scoresby.

In 2023 it hit the finals on a nine-game winning streak before being narrowly turfed from the flag race – and this year, finals losses to Scoresby and Whitehorse ended the dream.

“It’s going to be something that’ll drive us from day one of pre-season all the way through,” Ficorilli said.

“When you get that far, put the work in to finish second and to bomb out in straight sets, it’s definitely something that can give us a bit of fire in the belly.

“It’s something I haven’t not thought about every day since I played the last game.”

Ficorilli joined Chirnside Park as a playing-assistant at the end of 2023, crossing from Silvan where he won a premiership in 2022, kicking 70 goals.

The small forward has more than 500 career majors to his name having also played in the league’s higher divisions at Croydon.

EFNL 2024: Justin Ficorilli celebrates a goal for Chirnside Park. Picture: Supplied

He replaces outgoing mentor Dave Newlands at the Chirnside Park helm, who called time after five years.

Senior coaching had been on Ficorilli’s radar.

“We worked out that it was best that if we got a coach within the club, knows the club and has a relationship with the players,” he said.

“‘Nugget’ (Newlands) backed me in. I came to the club with hopefully becoming a senior coach and it’s worked out in the end. The club was happy to go through the process with me.

“It’s an exciting list that ‘Nugget’ has put together.”

The incoming coach has wasted no time shoring up the list, with the inclusion of decorated Mooroolbark midfielder James McManus set to address the need for some inside grunt.

A ruckman could also be on the agenda to support key man Paul Thatcher following the retirement of Grattan Stephens.

But with most of the list re-signed for next season, Ficorilli was confident his group could harness the hurt of the past two campaigns and give the flag a shake.

“The list is there – we finished second on the ladder by percentage, we just need to add a few to get us to the big dance,” he said.

“Unfortunately a couple of things didn’t go our way in the finals series but hopefully we get a clear run at it next year.”