Mitcham coach Neil Winterton provides pre-season update
Mitcham will be hoping to establish itself in EFL Division 1 in next year, but Berwick’s application to join the competition from 2021 could add a layer of difficulty for the Tigers. Here’s why.
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The prospect of two clubs being relegated from Eastern league Division 1 could add a layer of difficulty for Mitcham’s quest to establish itself in the second tier.
Two-time premiership coach Neil Winterton said the Tigers were “without question” in a stronger position than when they were relegated at the end of last year.
They will make an immediate return to Division 1 in 2020 following this year’s thrilling grand final victory, which was decided with an after-the-siren shot.
But if Berwick’s request to join Premier Division is approved at the league’s AGM on December 4, two clubs would be demoted from the second tier at the end of next year.
It would be part of a move to make the top three grades 10-team competitions.
“It’s certainly going to make it tougher and there would be two unlucky sides that end up going down,” Winterton said.
“It’s just important you get early wins on the board so you don’t put yourself under pressure.
“Early wins are going to be important if there’s a prospect of two sides dropping down.”
Ferntree Gully 2018 and 2019 best and fairest Alex Barton-Smith is the only addition of note.
Barton-Smith was also named in this year’s Division 3 Team of the Year.
“He’s going to add some real quality to us through the midfield,” Winterton said.
“When you jump up a division, you need to bolster your midfield division and he’ll certainly do that.
“He’s really the only recruit we’ve got so far as far as established senior players but we’re expecting we’ll get some improvement given we had a really young list.”
Winterton said there had been no departures from Walker Park.
Mitcham finished in the bottom two in the second tier between 2016 and 2018 before it was relegated but Winterton is expecting a stronger showing from his group next season.
“We were obviously there two seasons ago and, to be honest, we struggled with it,” he said.
“We’ve added some players to the mix since we were last in that division and the younger guys who were potentially good players have now really taken that step.
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“I think they matured a lot, just over that three-week process in the finals this year and the belief they got from those three finals wins.
“That will hopefully carry into next season and belief is a really important thing.
“I think a lot of those guys have got the belief that they can mix it with the better players in local footy.”
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