NFL 2019: Fitzroy Stars increased professionalism key factor in push for return to Division 2 finals
Greater professionalism has Fitzroy Stars primed to launch toward a return to Northern Football League finals this year.
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Greater professionalism has Fitzroy Stars primed to launch toward a return to Northern Football League finals this year.
The Stars were a perennial contender in Division 2 before last season, when they plummeted to seventh on the ladder and finished with a 2-16 record.
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But there is a renewed sense of optimism after a near-faultless pre-season under new coach Hayden Heta and the return of several stars to Sir Douglas Nicholls Oval.
“It is no secret that the club has got to where they have in previous years off the back of incredibly-talented footballers,” Heta said.
“But what they have lacked is just structure. We have had brilliant coaches, it hasn’t really been about who is at the helm.
“It’s more around setting up the right foundations to get players to buy-in. That is what we have spent most of our time doing.”
Fitzroy Stars have signed former AFL player Andrew Lovett (Port Melbourne Colts) and secured the return of key trio Peter Hood, Kain Proctor and Jai Burns from Division 1 club Bundoora.
Other recruits include Tindarra Hood (Preston Bullants), Carl Groth (Old Ivanhoe), Jake Firebrace (Calder Cannons) and ex-AFL player Chris Johnson.
Heta said the club had been “lucky to get 10 players” to some pre-season sessions last year.
But the mood has shifted considerably this off-season under ambitious first-year coach Heta.
“When I got to the club a year ago they had lost quite a few genuine senior players to Division 1 or elsewhere,” he said.
“But what I have noticed, the biggest change between this time last year and now, is the accountability.
“Just getting players to front up to training each night. Last year, I could have counted how many players we had at training on two hands.”
Heta said greater numbers at training had allowed the club to hone the game style he hopes will propel Fitzroy Stars back into the top four.
“What we have been able to do now, with the amount of players we’ve had, is actually work on a game plan,” he said.
“We are starting from a long way back, so we are being realistic.
“But the pleasing thing I have noticed, the guys are looking for structure and are really keen to implement what the coaches are pulling together.”
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