EFNL 2024: Youth to spearhead Fairpark’s new era

Eastern Division 3 club Fairpark has hit the pre-season with a swag of key signings as it embarks on a new era under incoming coach Josh Allison.

Youth and speed have been the recruiting priorities at Fairpark this off-season as it embarks on a new era under incoming coach Josh Allison.

The Division 3 club has welcomed a host of key additions across the ground, with gritty midfielder and defender Keagan Mitchell (Upper FTG) and Doncaster trio in tall utility Ryan Smith, winger/half-back Nathan Rose and lockdown defender Ben Randall among the signings. Randall won the Sharks’ reserves best and fairest in the league’s top division in 2023.

Allison said the club’s recruiting had an eye firmly on the future.

“A lot of them are mates of players at the club … they’re not just coming in from random locations and I’ve really encouraged the boys to reach out to their friends, acquaintances, to try and get people in the door but also people that already have some sort of relationship and will be more likely to stay,” Allison said.

“We’re not just getting people that are going to come in and out, for one year and out the next which is something that has happened over the last little period.”

EFNL 2024: Fairpark coach Josh Allison.

Fairpark finished the home-and-away season in seventh spot with a 6-12 record, with the club’s signings set to complement Allison’s game plan.

The coach said the injection of youth was particularly welcomed, with no under-19s fielded in 2024.

“We’ve got a couple more (recruits) coming on board shortly,” Allison said.

“There’s still more work to be done, but as you can see, we’ve brought in a whole lot of young talent, high-skilled, good-moving players which is something that’s going to help me play my game-style, being able to use a bit of pace on the outside and some skill.

“For us it was about getting young talent in (and) leg-speed on the outside is something we’ve really lacked. We need 30 in the squad or more that can play ones (senior) footy.

“The first step in the right direction is building the foundations of a squad that’s really going to compete and then something we can build on.”

But star key forward Jay Rankin has departed for Premier outfit Doncaster East – with VFL clubs said to be circling the former Dandenong Stingray.

Jay Rankin has headed to Premier Division. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Rankin kicked a combined 53 goals at senior level as a teenager across the past two seasons.

The 19-year-old had re-signed at Fairpark for 2025 before the club amicably agreed to release him to pursue a higher level.

“It’d be crazy to say you’re not going to miss him. He was unbelievable last year – he definitely had a major impact,” Allison said.

“It was one of those difficult decisions for the club, but we want people to go and chase the level of footy they want to play.”

The incoming coach believes the Lions attack will be less predictable next season.

“Now, having two or three targets forward, it’s definitely going to be sharing the ball around and opposition are going to have to do some homework on who we’re kicking the ball to, with plenty of options,” Allison said.

Fairpark opens its season at home to Coldstream on April 5.