Old Eltham Collegians faces immediate challenge of Mernda, Epping in opening rounds

31 for 31: Old Eltham Collegians will get an early premiership benchmark with the club’s new-look midfield exciting coach Matt Sleeman.

Matthew Keys celebrates a goal for Old Eltham Collegians. Picture: Andy Brownbill

A baptism of fire will give Old Eltham Collegians a very, very early taste of finals football.

The Turtles are looking to improve on back-to-back NFNL Division 3 preliminary finals this year and get an immediate test against grand finalist Mernda in Round 1 and relegated Epping in Round 2.

The three teams are among the favourites to win the competition this season.

Collegians has bolstered its squad with the addition of Collingwood premiership midfielder Brent Macaffer and prolific ball-winner Kieran Malone.

However, no expectations have been set on the club.

Old Eltham Collegians captain Eden Simpson. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Coach Matt Sleeman said the team wasn’t looking too far ahead.

“In the past we have (set expectations) but I think everyone would agree we’re going to be a good side this year,” Sleeman said.

“We’re focusing on small wins at the minute, the first two rounds are really challenging games.

“We’ve got Mernda who beat us three times last year and Epping is a side we’ve never played as a club, they’ve come down from a higher division.

“It would be great to start the season with two wins against two quality sides.”

Macaffer’s arrival launched a Division 3 arms race with a number of clubs securing Division 1 quality talent.

The gun onballer returns to the Northern league after two seasons with Tooradin-Dalmore in the West Gippsland league, where he won a premiership and league best-and-fairest in 2022.

Malone (Warrandyte), Bradyn Taglieri (Eltham), Beaudie Maroney (West Preston-Lakeside) and Bryce Fleming (Broadford) are other major additions.

Ben Cox gets a kick for Old Eltham Collegians. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Team of the Year midfielder Seb Francis-Perkins (Banyule) and Jaedyn Kearney (Epping) are the only major departures.

League leading goalkicker Matt Williamson (66 goals) also led the club in league medal and Coaches’ MVP voting, ahead of Francis-Perkins.

The pair, together with Tim Ellis and Nick Milne, were recognised with Team of the Year honours.

Sleeman is excited by his new-look midfield, confident it can continue to shield last season’s No. 1 defence in the competition while improving the fifth ranked offence.

“The side we rolled out last year, you’re always optimistic, but when I look back at what our midfield looked like this time last year to what it will look like in Round 1, it’s pretty exciting,” he said.

“There’s no secret Macaffer will be in there, Taglieri and Malone will play a fair bit throughout the season and our captain Eden Simpson, his game has lifted having those guys around him.

“There’s a thought that older players come back to Div 3 to have a kick and take some cash but not heavily invest in their training.

“I couldn’t speak highly enough of the guys and how committed they’ve been in training, Macaffer especially, Taglieri and Malone, having them at training lifts the standard through the roof.”

Macaffer, the 2019 NFNL Division 2 league best-and-fairest, in particular has been a standout in pre-season training.

“The volume of running and training he’s done, most clubs have their forums where everyone is posting their workouts,” Sleeman said.

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“At the start I don’t think he was posting much but once he did I think it really lifted everyone else, I’ve never seen someone train as hard as he does.

“We only had one practice match and he looked pretty good and each time we’ve done match sim he’s looked awesome.”

Old Eltham defeated VAFA club Kew Bears by 10 goals in its only practice match.

It will host premiership favourite Mernda at Eltham College on April 6.