Watsonia coach Anthony McGregor discusses the Saints’ expectations, preparations
31 for 31: After avoiding relegation last year there’s a clean slate at Watsonia and after a busy off-season, coach Anthony McGregor is excited by his club’s potential.
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For few teams in the Northern league is 2025 a cleaner slate than at Watsonia.
After playing finals in 2023, the Saints tumbled down the NFNL Division 2 ladder last year and only survived relegation with a win over Laurimar on the final day of the season.
Former AFL player Anthony McGregor has been appointed coach and the club has been one of the busiest this off-season, bringing in several new faces.
The club could have 10 or more debutants when it takes the field against St Mary’s on April 5.
In another boost, Watsonia will also have under-19s again after a 12-month hiatus.
McGregor said the club’s foundations were being rebuilt, which made for an exciting time.
“We’re moving forward, I think the foundations are being built for something promising and we can be optimistic about,” McGregor said.
“We’ve still got the core group there but I just think they need someone to believe in them, to help them grow.
“The practice match (against Newcombe), we had nine new faces that could potentially play Round 1.
“I don’t know who’s going to play Round 1, this Epping (practice match) is going to be enormous for someone to put their name up in lights.
“Like most clubs in Div 2, there’s eight to 10 that pick themselves and there’s 10 to 12 spots up for grabs, that’s what I’m excited about and there’s a buzz around the club as well.”
The ins are extensive.
Charlie Smyth (Macleod), Sam Cozens (Uni Blues), Tom Jackson (North Ringwood), Jake McSwain (Templestowe), Luke Kenna (Doncaster), Dakota Forryan (Craigieburn), James Bird (Roxburgh Park), Mason Grech (Eltham), Jack Murphy and Ned Timms (both Avondale heights) have all signed on.
Smyth and Jackson have been included in the club’s leadership group, underlining their impact since arriving.
Meanwhile, Cooper Mitchell (Doncaster) has had his first clearance declined.
They will look to replace some key players in the likes of Mitch Brownhill (Lower Plenty), Jye Murphy (Eltham), Jett Humphreys (Northcote Park), Rayden Garrard (Greensborough), Damon Braby, Tim Todd (both Lindenow) and Luke Pantalone.
With an overhaul of the club’s list, McGregor has simplified the gameplan and will look to make Watsonia the one of hardest team to score against in the competition.
“We’re all about winning the footy and keeping it, minimising turnover,” he said.
“Teams who make the most turnovers lose the game, we’re aiming to control and keep the footy.
“Most times when I’ve coached, as a rule we’re one of the hardest teams to score against.
“I’ll be aiming to be the No.1 scored against team in the comp, keep scores against to a minimum and have the firepower to kick a winning score.
“How I trained and played footy, not being the most skilful or flashy but I was the fittest and relentless.
“I demanded a lot from my teammates and from the coaching group, I like demands from the playing group, it keeps me invested and looking for new ways.”
Significantly, the Saints retained several senior players including captain Josh Boulton, Corey Potter, league-leading goalkicker Ethan Lowe, Daniel Annetta and Luke Whyte.
McGregor has been impressed by the buy-in from his players through the off-season with a couple of standouts.
“We’ve got a spread of core senior players that have all bought in, they’re fit and firing,” he said.
“Nick has been really good, as someone who stands out as “flying on the track”.
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“There’s something driving him this year and I feel like he’s going to have a breakout year.
“Corey with a role change, has liked that, not getting beaten up in the ruck – having freedom to be a third-man up or tall wingman or up forward, who knows.
“There’s a level of unknown about our group, in an exciting way.”
Watsonia will host St Mary’s at Binnak Park in Round 1 before a tough trip to preliminary finalist Whittlesea, then Panton Hill and Diamond Creek in a tricky opening month.
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