Heidelberg West coach Dale Mayne discusses the Hawks expectations, preparations

31 for 31: Heidelberg West has welcomed back two club greats but has focused on its future with its pre-season recruiting as it looks to win some respect back.

Heidelberg West’s Dane Dmitrovic gathers the ball. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Heidelberg West has one eye on 2025 and another on its future.

The Hawks have recruited with both in mind as they look to be a more competitive outfit in NFNL Division 3.

With five wins last year the club finished above only Reservoir and Lalor but did knock off both Kinglake and Old Eltham Collegians.

The return of club greats Brad Moore and Jarryd Coulson, plus a fully fit Masaki Miki, is a major boost to West’s immediate ambitions.

The arrival of the likes of James Mefflin, Bryce Barnes, Daniel Verdi, Noah Zadorozniak, Matt Mikic, Josh Manester, Nick Harris and Connor Tolley is for the future.

Heidelberg West’s Ryan Offer looks for options. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Second-year coach Dale Mayne said the club needed to build in the right way.

“We’re really excited about the young talent we’ve brought into the club,” Mayne said.

“It’s really exciting to have a player like James (Mefflin) at the club, it’s a show of faith in us because he’s a young player going places.

“His standards are really high, he’s at the elite end of training, and he’s not the only one that’s impressed us.

“Bryce is on board as well and we think he’ll have a big impact at Division 3 level.

“Josh Manester is from Greensborough, who’s just out of 19s, and Connor Tolley from Banyule is another one who’s training got high standards – he’s been unlucky and could have played a lot more senior footy at Banyule.

“We know success doesn’t happen because you go and buy football players, our football director Kirby Bell has done a really good job in helping these guys realise Heidelberg West has a future for them.

“The proof is going to be in the pudding, we’ve got to go out there an be competitive in games.”

Guiding those young players will be the likes of Moore and Coulson.

Moore is a two-time club best-and-fairest winner and five-time Division 3 Team of the Year selection and returns after one season at Diamond Creek.

Coulson is a three-time Division 3 league best-and-fairest winner, two-time club champion and five-time Team of the Year selection and returns after three seasons at Thomastown.

“Brad and Jarryd (coming back), they’re champions of the club, the value they bring is immeasurable,” Mayne said.

“We’re under no illusions, we can’t recruit top talent and think that is going to improve us alone, we have to be better across the board.

“They want success and they’ve got so much to offer.

“Add in Masaki coming off an injury and only playing a couple of games and someone like James Condello who was travelling last year and played five games.”

Liam Wanders is the only major departure.

With fresh blood in the club, Mayne is looking forward to a stronger showing in 2025.

He knows the club has a long way to go to catch up with the competition’s top teams but he wants to see a more competitive showing on a weekly basis.

“We just want to be respected, every game we play we’re difficult to play against,” he said.

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“Results will look after themselves, it’s going to be a tight comp and there’s going to be close games, so there’s no point putting a figure on it.

“The competition is strong and healthy so we know our players will develop because they’re playing good teams every week.”

The Hawks kick off their Division 3 campaign when they host Old Eltham Collegians in an immediate test of their potential.

Clashes against Ivanhoe, Kilmore and Reservoir follow in the opening month, all teams that didn’t make finals last year.