Tim Bongetti hoping to finish Rob Hyde’s work and lead Eltham to a premiership

Like Luke Skywalker and Yoda, Tim Bongetti is hoping to finish his master’s work and lead Eltham to a long-awaited premiership and promotion.

Daniel Horsfield gets a kick for Eltham. Picture: Hamish Blair

Tim Bongetti hopes to be the Luke Skywalker to Rob Hyde’s Yoda and complete his mentor’s work at Eltham.

The Panthers came up short in last year’s NFNL Division 2 grand final, Hyde’s last game in charge, and Bongetti has taken the reins looking to lead the club back to the top flight for the first time since 2017.

Bongetti co-captained and Hyde coached Greensborough to the 2014 Division 1 premiership.

While Bongetti left the Borough in 2015, the pair have remained in contact and it was Hyde that suggested Bongetti apply for the Eltham job after being surprisingly let go by East Keilor.

Now the Panthers coach is looking to finish the job.

Darcy Vallance in action for Eltham. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Rob Hyde has been a big figure in my football career, coming back from VFL and playing under him,” Bongetti said.

“I learnt a lot as a footballer and as a coach but more importantly as a bloke, we’ve had some great chats and he’s definitely had a big input in how I’ve turned out.

“Watching him and the side last year, we’ve got our sights set on it but we understand Diamond Creek has picked up well, Panton Hill has picked up well, Northcote Park and Thomastown.

“We’re hungry to get it, hungry as a football club and hungry as a team.

“At the end of the day someone’s got to win it, we can beat around the bush and say ‘we’ll see how we go’, but every year I’ve played footy I’m going out there to win a flag.”

After reaching the grand final, Eltham has bolstered its squad with some high-end recruits.

Northern league representative captain Jesse Donaldson arrives after a stellar career at Montmorency and former Coburg VFL captain Tim Goodwin has signed on from Ovens and Murray club Corowa-Rutherglen.

AFL Sydney 2022 Rising Star nominee Colm Culligan (UNSW-ES), three-time Balwyn premiership player Liam Frazer (Sorrento), Corey Middleton and Nathan Perrone (both Craigieburn) are other new faces.

Jason McCormick puts on a big bump. Picture: Hamish Blair

Eltham has breezed through its pre-season, securing practice match wins over Bongetti’s former MPFL club Pines, Eastern league neighbours Warrandyte and NFNL Division 1 club Whittlesea.

Bongetti says a professional fitness program, Fit for Finals, over the summer has the club primed.

“We hired a professional fitness adviser, Eltham is a very professional club off field and we just wanted that professionalism to flow through into the playing group as well,” he said.

“It’s put us in a great position, winning all three of our practice matches, haven’t had any injuries, it’s been worth every cent.

“It’s great for local footy coaches that don’t have a knack in fitness, I’ve done enough pre-seasons over the time but I’m not a professional.”

With the influx of talent and a full squad to chose from, Bongetti faces some headaches ahead of Good Friday’s season-opener against Panton Hill.

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The Panthers hope to have Team of the Year and VFL-listed pair Daniel Owen (Coburg) and Finnbar Maley (Bullants) available, with Maley recovering from a concussion.

“It’s going to be tough on the selection table because everyone is fit,” Bongetti said.

“Bringing five new players into a footy club, that have all performed really well through the pre-season, it means there’s five boys that were cemented in the side last year that will miss out and be disappointed.

“The best part of it for the footy club is the depth that we’ve been building, which means no one is safe and a culture where everyone is performing to the best they can to either get in or hold on.”