Hurstbridge improves one key element, celebrates early premiership success
After a history-making finals appearance last season, Hurstbridge has made big strides in one key area, while several Bridges are already celebrating a flag.
Northern
Don't miss out on the headlines from Northern. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Hurstbridge will look to run its rivals into the ground this season.
The Bridges identified a need for better endurance to finish games after their season ended in a 57-point elimination final defeat.
Despite the margin, the finals appearances was a historic moment for the club – it’s first top-five finish in NFNL Division 1.
Hurstbridge is looking to build and challenge the competition heavyweights after going 1-1-7 against its fellow finalists.
A taste of finals has left the Bridges hungry for more and coach Joel Cordwell says that has been reflected in the pre-season.
“We’ve put in a lot of work over pre-season … it’s been a big tick for our running program and Matt Pow our running coach,” Cordwell said.
“We want to be a better running team and endurance all round, it’s something we identified particularly playing against the bigger sides – they seemed to run out the game better than us.
“It also allows us to play our brand, we were able to do it for 80 per cent last year but we want to run out games playing the way we want to play.
“When we met the boys in their exit interviews they were all really keen to get back into it.
“They all did individual running programs before we came back to pre-season and 90 per cent of them got better 2km time trial times and some were posting under six minutes.”
Attracting an athletic ruckman is sure to give Hurstbridge another dimension in midfield.
Sean McLaren has arrived at Ben Frilay Oval after a season out of the game but with an impressive resume that includes being AFL rookie listed by Sydney.
The Bridges have also secured Port Melbourne VFL-listed son of a gun Tom Hird, favourite son Cooper Perrin (Great Western), Cam Wild (East Keilor) and David Mennen returns to the NFNL from Benalla.
At 200cm, McLaren is one of the club’s leading runners and is sure to be an handful for opposition big men.
“Sean has come in, a very mobile ruckman, an excellent runner – he’s been running half marathons,” Cordwell said.
“On Friday night (against Norwood) he was really strong for three quarters and then his fitness just took over.
“We’re really excited, he’s very competitive, very athletic, good knowledge in terms of setting up the stoppage and directing the boys into his hit zones.”
In a breakout season Will Cookson finished fourth in the Rosbrook Medal, while Mitch Moschitti was eighth in the Coaches’ MVP.
The pair, together with Joel Naylor (53 goals) were all named in the Division 1 Team of the Year.
Big pre-seasons has Cordwell confident another couple of Bridges are ready for breakout years.
“I have to say Harry O’Brien and Jake Wild (have impressed),” he said.
“They’ve both been elevated to the leadership group, we had a player vote and they got high votes.
“They’ve done a power of work, both have really changed their body shape, they’re looking to get into the midfield.
“Them being able to play midfield minutes just gives us a lot more depth in that area and is exciting for the both of them.”
While there’s still three weeks before Round 1, the Bridges are already celebrating a premiership with five players involved in Tracy Village’s NTFL Division 1 flag.
Bailey Jordan, Joel Naylor and Cooper Perrin all played in the Razorbacks’ grand final victory, while Sean Ryan and Kye Declase were also involved.
Cordwell believed it would ensure the group hit the ground running.
DIV 2: FLAG FOUNDATIONS IN PLACE AT NORTHCOTE PARK
LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE
DIV 3: “VERY DIFFERENT” RESERVOIR READY TO COMPETE
“They were pretty good, they won the flag on Saturday and turned up on Monday night, which I didn’t expect,” he said.
“Cooper Perrin, Bailey (Jordan) and Joel (Naylor) have been playing in that forward line together so they’ve build that cohesiveness.
“Those boys playing regularly has helped with the conditioning and sharpness and Joel and BJ look like they’re in really good condition.”
Hurstbridge kicks off the 2024 season on the road against promotion-winner Eltham on April 13.
Laurimar lands local footy goalkicking great
Laurimar has joined the NFNL Division 3 arms race, securing one of the Northern league’s greatest goalkickers for its return to the competition in 2025.
Why Truslove traded Sydney Swans for Banyule
After two years at Sydney Swans, Damian Truslove is back in the Northern league after being appointed Banyule coach. He explains the move and what excites him about the Bears.