Lower Plenty coach Travis Stephens discusses the Bear’s expectations and preparations

31 for 31: Lower Plenty has gone from two wins and narrow relegation survival to eight wins and a finals triumph. What can the Bears achieve in 2025?

Lower Plenty is looking to take another step in 2025. Picture: Field of View Photography

From two wins in 2023 to eight in 2024, Lower Plenty is looking to take another step forward in 2025.

After surviving relegation, the Bears stormed into NFNL Division 2 finals last year and won its elimination final in one of the most impressive bounce back campaigns.

The club believes the natural progression of its young talent, and a couple of strategic recruits, can see it contend with the competition’s heavyweights.

Second-year coach Travis Stephens said the players enthusiasm had made the pre-season feel shorter.

“It doesn’t feel like a long pre-season, numbers have been good, the recruits are going well and the young kids that played senior footy are driving higher standards,” Stephens said.

Lower Plenty is looking to take another step in 2025. Picture: Field of View Photography

“That’s the key to it, obviously the boys played finals and won a final, and I think they’ve got that hunger now, knowing they can play at the level.

“For a few of them it was their first real season of senior footy, they adapted well, and finished fourth so we want to better that but we’ll see how we go.

“You look at sides that have recruited well like Diamo, Macleod coming down, they’re the benchmarks we want to get to.”

Stephens is expecting a tight race for the top-five with Macleod coming back from Division 1 and the likes of St Mary’s and Northcote Park looking to push up.

Lower won all four of its matches decided by 12 points or less last season, pointing to the composure of the club’s young list.

However, the club will likely be without calming influences in Patty Flynn and Billy Barden.

Having spoken about the club’s goals this season, Stephens believes his players have realistic expectations.

“We’ve spoken a little bit about it, I don’t think they’re getting too far ahead of themselves,” he said.

“They know how hard Division 2 is going to be this season.

Lower Plenty is looking to take another step in 2025. Picture: Field of View Photography

“We’ve spoken about bringing those high standards each training session and each game day, you can’t rest on your laurels otherwise you’re going to get wiped off the park.

“There’s a few clubs that didn’t make finals last year, like Northcote Park, so it’s going to be pretty tight for spots.”

Trusting in the club’s young talent, Lower have been quiet on the recruiting front.

Gun midfielder Mitch Brownhill has been lured across from divisional rival Watsonia to strengthen the club’s midfield, while Daniel James has signed from Eltham to help Seth Hill fill Flynn’s boots in the ruck.

After an impressive season that saw him finish third in the Division 1 reserves league best-and-fairest, Ben Smith has come across looking for more senior football, while Devon Noons has come up the hill from Montmorency.

“The guys we’ve got in, they know a few mates at the club,” Stephens said.

“They don’t fill holes that we needed but add further depth to the place.

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“I’ve had a bit to do with some of them during my time at Monty, so it’s good to get them over, and they get an opportunity.”

Lower will ramp up pre-season preparations with a pair of practice matches, first newly returned Division 3 club Laurimar before Eastern Division 1 outfit North Ringwood.

The Bears will kick off their 2025 campaign against Northcote Park at Montmorency Park on April 5, after the two teams traded 10-goal wins last year.

A difficult opening month looms with a trip to grand finalist Diamond Creek, a clash with preliminary finalist Whittlesea and then Thomastown in a rematch of last year’s elimination final.