Whittlesea coach Wayne van der Ross discusses the Eagles’ difficult start and expectations

Whittlesea faces the daunting task of facing last season’s NFNL Division 1 top three in the opening three weeks but coach Wayne van der Ross says anything can happen

Whittlesea faces a horror first three weeks of the NFNL Division 1 season but new coach Wayne van der Ross isn‘t daunted.

The Eagles’ season begins with a trip to preliminary finalist Montmorency before reigning premier Heidelberg visits the Showgrounds and thirdly Bundoora at Yulong Reserve.

Last season’s top three teams in the opening three weeks would be enough for a coach to reach for the panadol.

However, van der Ross has a simple philosophy … anything can happen.

“What better way to start the year, Montmorency, Heidelberg and Bundoora,” he said.

“It will show us where we need to be, I think everyone would say they’re the top three sides, so it’s a great challenge for the boys.

“Anything can happen in the first three rounds, we might catch them off guard, we’re looking to win.

“We’re not looking to just be competitive – that’s the aim of the year – we’re looking to win, we don’t want ‘oh, that was a good loss’ and lose by five or six goals. We don’t want to be the club that takes a ‘good loss’.”

Whittlesea’s Riley Carter. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The club will certainly be prepared with practice matches against Eastern Division 1 premiership contender Mitcham, Northern Division 2 flag favourite Eltham and EFNL Premier club Doncaster.

Whittlesea survived relegation last season by just four points with a Round 15 win over Northcote Park at Bill Lawry Oval proving season-defining.

The club is expected to again be battling for survival but Van der Ross says there’s plenty of optimism.

“You can say no expectations but I look at it as an opportunity for the boys, the sky is the limit,” he said.

“Anything can happen this year with a young team, so it’s a year of growth and development but a year of optimism as well.

“You need a bit of luck this year but I’m looking forward to the challenge for Northern Division 1 football and we can’t wait for Round 1.”

Jaron Murphy proved his class and was named in the back pocket in the Team of the Year while also winning the club’s goalkicking award with 23 majors.

He, along with captain Xavier Dimasi, Paul Higgins and Matt Atta will lead a young team in 2023.

Whittlesea’s Christian Prestopino. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Whittlesea has lost the services of Jake and Mitch Wild, Will Plain and Blake Fitzgerald to Hurstbridge, Brodie Bell and Curtis Brown to North Heidelberg and Brody Glenn and Mark Pegoraro to Greensborough.

Positively, experienced pair, two-time premiership player and best-and-fairest winner, Matt Dornauf (Deloraine, NTFA) and Macleod ruckman Tom Flood have arrived to bolster the Eagles.

Van der Ross knows he has a lot of young talent at his disposal and plans to take full advantage.

The former Yarra Glen mentor believes the likes of Harley Fraumano, Blake Heyfron and Ethan Hempenstall will be regular senior players this year, as well as Matt Ryan and Alex D‘Arro when available from Northern Knights.

Van der Ross is hopeful Sandringham VFL-listed midfielder Blake Watson will suit up for two to five games this season.

The first-year coach says the club‘s game plan is designed to maximise his young list’s strengths.

“We will have adjust, we will be younger this year, but in saying that we did recruit some experience,” van der Ross said.

“Our youth is going to be our strength so I‘ve adjusted the game plan to play to our strength.

“It’s not to say we’re going all out attack, I’ve implemented more defensive structures, our kick-ins and zones, but we’ve got to play to our strength which is our youth, our pace and our skill.”