Diamond Creek coach Andrew Tranquilli discusses the Creekers’ expectations, preparations
31 for 31: After back-to-back grand finals, there’s only one thing on Diamond Creek’s mind but coach Andrew Tranquilli says the club faces a massive challenge.
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Will 2025 be third time lucky for Diamond Creek?
The Creekers have made back-to-back NFNL Division 2 grand finals but haven’t been able to salute and, following a strong pre-season, will enter the year as flag favourite.
The club will rue a missed opportunity last season, having four more scoring shots than South Morang but falling six points short.
In response, Diamond Creek has bolstered its list with former SANFL ruckman Bailey Griffiths, Division 1 talents Jesse Thompson, Bronson Hill, Ty Franks and Darcy Laurie.
Favourite sons Darcy and Ewen Macpherson are also back at Coventry Oval but will both be VFL-listed at North Melbourne.
Creekers coach Andrew Tranquilli joked his president Shaun Fitzpatrick said a premiership was a must but believed there were several major challengers.
“If you talk to our president, it’s a non-negotiable to go that one-step further,” Tranquilli said.
“I’m a realist. I’ve said from day one, I’d rather be in the fight than watching from ringside so if we get there, fantastic, if we win it, beautiful, but I’m looking for continued growth right across the list.
“I think it’s going to be harder this year, personally, Macleod will provide a different element to Whittlesea, who will still be competitive and Lower Plenty is going to be stronger.
“I put down in the (coach’s) survey, Macleod is probably the side we’re all chasing.
“As much as they’ve come down, they were unlucky and could have won a few extra games, they haven’t lost anyone and recruited a couple.
“It’s going to be a lot more even, which I think is fantastic, for too long it’s been three or four sides and then everyone else but I think this year is going to be a really good battle.”
The Creekers lost grand final players Mitch Dale and Mitch Tobin, as well as Bryce East.
Former captain Chris Maloney and star forward Ryan Pingree are weighing up their senior football future.
As well as the Macpherson brothers, Ben Major (Coburg) and Taj Logan and Liam Farrar (Carlton) have also won VFL contracts.
A glut of young talent coming through has seen a mini changing of the guard.
The club’s under-19s made the Division 1 grand final and the likes of reigning league best-and-fairest Connor Lidgerwood, Jesse Callaway and Kade Garraway are pushing for more senior opportunities.
“We’ve had a lot of young kids come up and put a lot of energy into trying to fast track them into senior footy, it’s been three nights a week,” Tranquilli said.
“We’ve had a couple of practice games, we played Altona and got the choccies there, and then Blackburn which is a strong Premier club, we had about 13 out, but we held our own and got done by about five goals.
“There were signs we’re on the right track, we’re not perfect but we’re in a good spot to launch the season and be competitive against Macleod.
“We’ve got good depth, we’ve got good kids coming through that provide genuine competition, our 19s are strong and our reserves will benefit from the depth of our senior list.”
After the grand final defeat, another ruckman a tweak to the club’s forward structure were identified as key pre-season changes.
Griffiths, a family friend of Tranquilli, will partner with 2023 Team of the Year big man Nick Barro in the ruck department, while the addition of Hill will help fill the void left by Pingree, who kicked 27 goals.
“It was a targeted campaign, our focus was more on our kids so retention first and then what are the gaps,” Tranquilli said.
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“We knew we needed someone to help our ruck stocks, that was our priority and I’ve known Bailey since he was a kid.
“It was my third try, the timing was right and he felt he needed a change, so we’ve given him an opportunity to be the No.1 ruckman and then we can play (Nick) Barro as a key forward.”
The Creekers will get an early test of where they sit when they travel to DeWinton Park to face relegated Macleod.
They will then face semi-final opponent Lower Plenty, promotion-winner Old Paradians and Watsonia in the opening month.
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