Mernda coach Rob Fletcher finds positives in difficult NFL Division 3 season

SEASON REVIEW: Mernda had high expectations in NFL Division 3 but coach Rob Fletcher believes the club found several positives in a four-win season.

Riley Vincent in action for Mernda.

There were silver linings in Mernda’s difficult 2021.

The Demons were beset by injuries and coach Rob Fletcher admits a 4-8 win-loss ratio – three of which came against Reservoir – was a failure.

However, those same injuries allowed the NFL Division 3 club to uncover some young talent.

Josh Mazzarella became a major weapon off half-back, finishing third in the league best-and-fairest.

Will Crouch showcased his nose for goals in attack and was selected in the Division 3 Team of the Year along with Mazzarella.

Riley Edwards in action for Mernda.

Josh Coe continued his developed in the ruck and the likes of Aaron Colliss, Chris Roussos, Riley Edwards, Tanar Pierce, Riley Vincent and Tom McMahon all showed promising glimpses.

“All our veterans got injured, if you go through they were injured for 90 per cent of the season,” Fletcher said.

“In the last five games of the season we played probably 18 blokes under the age of 20 every week.

“We were very, very young but it meant we got some games into the young boys, to give them game time in key positions will develop them that little bit quicker.

“We had some good results, Josh Maz finishing third in the comp medal and our twos captain (Michael Arcus) winning the comp medal.

“It was Josh’s first season of senior footy, which is huge, and then he and Will Crouch making the Team of the Year is fantastic.”

Mernda started the season with a win over Lalor but only sung the song three more times, all against the wooden-spoon Mustangs.

A nine-point loss to Kilmore was the closest the Demons came against a side above it on the ladder.

Mernda coach Rob Fletcher.

Major recruits Daniel Smith (one game), Shannon Smith (four) and Bryce Kimuliatis (eight) were limited by injuries and skipper Josh Delaney had his season cut short by suspension.

Fletcher hopes with the return of experienced players, Mernda can quickly rebound in 2022.

“I think it was a failure in wins and losses, our expectations were a lot more but the positive was we got a lot of games into our 17 to 20-year-olds,” he said.

“We never got belted, we were always there abouts, which isn’t too bad for a team of young fellas.

“If we can get the boys like Shan, Kimo and Daniel Smith back on the track then we should be right.”

After an active recruiting campaign for the cancelled 2020 season and 2021, Fletcher is expecting a quieter off-season.

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“We’ve got a couple of announcements to make in the next few weeks, so it’s looking positive,” he said.

“We’ve got a new committee coming on board, Danny Whittaker has done an amazing job getting the club up and about.

“We’re looking at a couple of onballers and another back.

“We’re sticking with youth, so we don’t need to go out and get 10 new players, we probably just need two or three.”