Outer East FN: Wandin adds recruits, embraces expectation ahead of 2025 season
Wandin coach Nick Adam says the Bulldogs will raise the bar in OEFN after the departure of rivals Narre Warren to Southern league. The Bulldogs have recruited well but lost some good ones, too.
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With Narre Warren no longer in the competition, Wandin is happy to take on the tag as the side to beat in Outer East league’s Premier Division in 2025.
Wandin lost to Narre Warren by 40 points in last season’s grand final, which was Narre’s last match in OEFN before it moved to Southern league, where the Magpies will kick off in the top flight Division 1 this year.
While most would assume Wandin would be pleased the mighty Magpies have flown the coop, therefore making its task easier, Bulldogs coach Nick Adam says he’ll miss the rivalry.
“I loved being a part of all the Narre-Wandin games, particularly over the last three years,” he said.
“We had significant moments against them in finals series throughout 2023, 23 and 24. We didn’t win them all, and they didn’t win them all, and they’ve got some great memories for it I’m sure, and we’ve got some fantastic ones.
“We’re disappointed they’re gone.”
Wandin won the 2023 flag, sandwiched between Narre Warren’s titles in ‘22 and ‘24.
Season 2025 brings a new challenge and Adam believes OEFN Premier Division will be evenly contested, with Woori Yallock and Mt Evelyn to be among the hardest to beat.
“Mt Evelyn have recruited really well, I expect them to be the ones that have jumped,” he said.
“Ryley Monkhorst goes back to Woori and they are a perennially strong football club that keeps turning up.
“Olinda Ferny Creek were built off youth, as were Monbulk, last year. Both have got really really good coaches who were in their first year, so I expect that we see, with that second pre season, you get some growth.
“We’re really excited about the competition evening up. I know Gembrook have recruited well, they’ve got a couple out of Noble Park, Marley Williams has come, Robbie Nahas has come from North Ringwood to be back with Spud (Firrito), they’re going to strengthen up their list. Time will tell.”
Adam welcomes the pressure that comes with expectation.
“It’s very rare that you lose a grand final and go into the next year as favourite but that’s our lot in life,” he said.
“But it’s also something as a club that means we’re doing a lot right and we want to be the hunted and we want that every year, we don’t shy away from that.”
Wandin has lost four players from its grand final side, including full-forward Clint Johnson (retired), Jack Manson, who has moved back to Adelaide, and Daniel Hirst. who is having a year off.
But the Bulldogs have recruited strongly and strategically, adding Montrose ruckman Ben Johnson, Echuca premiership defender Daniel Willis and Cayden Black from South Belgrave.
Adam expects Black, who joins his brother Chayce at the Bulldogs, to be “in the top half a dozen midfielders in the competition’’.
Adam said Johnson’s impact would be significant.
“We haven’t had a recognised ruck for a number of years, and to get one into the team is going to be important,’’ he said.
“We’ve had some guys who busted their arses in the role and won a flag. Jordan Spencer was phenomenal for us that year.
“But Johnson is the 100kg guy who moves well, kicks it well.’’
Willis’ experience in the backline will be vital, Adam said.
“He’s played in all of Echuca’s flags when they were strong, and played VFL for Essendon prior to that,’’ he said.
“We probably needed to add some voice into the back end of the ground and he will add that.
“He kicks it well, he’s an intercept player and he’s a real voice out on the ground. That will add a different dimension to what we are defensively.’’
Wandin will also see more of former Port Adelaide AFL midfielder Joel Garner this year as he splits his time between the Bulldogs and Richmond’s VFL side.
Wandin’s key men remain — Chayce Black, Patty Bruzzese, Aaron Mullett, Harrison van Duuren, Jordan Jaworski, Patrick Hodgett, Samuel Hodgett, Brodie Atkins and Leiwyn Jones.
“Every year there’s turnover and we’ve lost some important ones out of the team but I think we’ve been fortunate to be really purposeful in what we’ve brought in and I think they’re going to help us considerably in 2025,’’ Adam said.
Adam said players from the club’s strong under-16 side of last season would step up to the under-18s in 2025, with some to play seniors.
“There’s probably half a dozen who will be long term senior footballers,’’ he said.
“They won’t come through at the same rate, nor would we want them to. If we’ve got one or two of them plugging in and out of my team team this year then that becomes pretty simple to carry.
“In terms of our depth over the next two or three years I think we’re in a pretty good position which is cool.’’
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