NFL 2019: Whittlesea coach Blair Harvey’s key area for improvement

WHITTLESEA coach Blair Harvey has identified the key area the club must improve to be a premiership contender in his first season in charge.

Whittlesea’s Xavier Dimasi tries to burst through a tackle against Bundoora.

IMPROVING Whittlesea’s skill level will be the key focus for new coach Blair Harvey in his first pre-season.

Harvey, who has replaced Jimmy Atkins as coach of the Division 2 club, said his players had been using balls since they returned to training on November 13.

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“It’s something I think they need to improve on, their skill level, and the only way that’s going to improve is by touching the footy,” Harvey said.

“From day one, that’s what we’ll be about. We’ll get our fitness in the drills.”

The Eagles have waved goodbye to experienced players Andrew Fairchild and Chris Horman (Kinglake), while smooth mover Jai Robinson has requested a clearance to Montmorency.

Harvey, who played more than 350 games during a decorated Northern Football League career, said he hoped to build a youthful list which would be competitive should the club return to Division 1.

“To be sustainable in Division 1, I think you have got to build a young side,” he said.

“Just with the points and salary cap that have come into play now, you need to have that young core group of players coming through that can stick together for 10 years, hopefully.”

Chris Horman has departed Whittlesea to join Kinglake.

Midfielder Jye Adamson (Berrigan) and key defender Lachlan Beattie (Yea) are the first confirmed signings of Harvey’s tenure at Whittlesea Showgrounds.

“Speaking to a lot of the fellas, they were pretty disappointed with their year,” he said.

“I think we have got a lot of improvement from within.”

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Whittlesea has resisted the temptation to chase “big-name players”, instead identifying a crop of young talent Harvey hopes to mould into a successful side.

Harvey said the club hoped to set a platform for long-term success next season.

“(We’re) trying to build a side that is going to come up to Division 1 to be competitive and try and build something,” he said.

“I’ve sort of shied away from going to look at too many older guys.”

The Eagles were relegated from Division 1 this year after finishing 10th, one game and percentage behind Hurstbridge.

The club is preparing to compete in the NFL second tier for the first time since 2015.

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