Wallan coach reflects on dominant RDFL season lost to COVID lockdown

SEASON REVIEW: Wallan’s Daniel Nolan doesn’t see the cancelled RDFL season as a lost opportunity, only motivation for a 2022 premiership tilt.

Patrick Mahoney in action for Wallan. Picture: Hamish Blair

Re-signed Wallan coach Daniel Nolan doesn’t believe 2021 was a lot opportunity for his club.

After recommitting for 2022, Nolan instead is adamant the cancelled season has only made his players hungrier as they look to snap the Magpies’ 30-year premiership drought.

Wallan was red-hot premiership favourites this season, sitting on top of the RDFL ladder with nine wins from 10 starts before Melbourne’s sixth lockdown put an end to the campaign.

“It’s disappointing but it’s also motivation, it’s not a lost opportunity because we grew as a football side,” Nolan said.

“Now the boys are hungry, there’s some unfinished business.

Matthew Bonello in action for Wallan. Picture: Hamish Blair

“That’s our challenge over pre-season, to realise we’re the hunted and sides are going to challenge us and find ways to beat us.

“We’re going to welcome that and hopefully we can use that as our motivation to break our 30-year premiership drought.

“In 2019, it was heart-breaking to go on a run and lose the grand final, 2020 our list improved and now – especially our younger players – these boys are right in the prime and ready for some success.”

Proof of Wallan’s dominance, the club finished “minor premier” in seniors, reserves and under-19.5s.

The Magpies’ only senior loss for the year came in Round 4 when they fell to Macedon by four points.

They responded with a 141-point win over Melton Centrals and record-breaking 142-point win over arch-rival Diggers Rest.

After 105 goals in 2019, spearhead Matthew Perri booted 46 majors in 10 games to claim a second straight league goalkicking award with Corey Grindlay (33) third.

The likes of Michael Mannix, Ricky and Ben Schraven and Jesse Davies are expected to feature prominently in the Bowen Medal count.

Nolan also praised Steve Boyall’s season and the returning Nathan Fowler.

“Stevie Boyall had a really consistent year. As someone new to the club to be voted into the leadership group says a lot about his character and how well respected he is,” Nolan said.

Brenton Cox in action for Wallan. Picture: Hamish Blair

“Nathan Fowler came back from Queensland and really gave us that structure at centre half-forward.”

Nolan will resist the temptation of dipping into the recruiting market over the off-season, instead looking to develop from within and reward the players’ loyalty and hard work.

“The balance is right, the balance across our forwards, mids and backs and our leadership,” he said.

“We have an excellent coaching department with Matty Huy, Spencer Mathieson, Damian Bonner and Stevie Bell.

DONE: COVID CLAIMS ANOTHER LOCAL FOOTY SEASON

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REPORT: WALLAN WIN A TRIBUTE TO NOLAN

“We’re going to focus on retaining, we’re going to show faith in the boys that have got us in this position.

“They’re the ones that deserve the success in the end.

“We’re going to back our game plan in, it’s pretty attacking, you saw some our score lines with our forward line and if you look at our defence the highest score we gave up was 66 points.”

An incredible 12 players featured in all 10 matches this season for Wallan, almost unparalleled as clubs across Victoria struggled with injury this season.