SFNL: Hampton Park coach Hayden Stanton speaks on his side’s off-season approach
Hampton Park coach Hayden Stanton says his club has to “build the right way” as it aspires to move up the Southern league, and feel its two latest recruits are indicative of that approach.
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Hampton Park coach Hayden Stanton says the Redbacks’ latest recruits fit the prototype for how he plans to build the club into a Southern league power.
After reaching an elimination final in Division 2 this season, Stanton has brought in former Narre Warren players Ryan Patterson and Bailey Mayworm.
According to Stanton, Patterson – who played 15 matches for the Magpies senior side before being omitted from their finals side – brings “class and polish”.
“Ryan Patterson brings flexibility to be able to play with a bit of class and polish through the middle of the ground,” he says.
“Apart from Tanner (Stanton) and Jack (Wilson) on the wings, we probably lacked a bit of polish and skill.
“We were pretty dour in our back half, so we wanted to attract people that can use the ball and carry it.
“He’s a good size, 187, 188cm, 24 (years old), so his best footy is coming up.
“Bailey Mayworm is a replacement for Makaio (Haywood)... Bailey has good hands, he marks the ball well, so we think he can go forward.
“Again he’s only 21, 22 so a great age.”
The Redbacks lost an elimination final to Highett after finishing fourth with an 11-7 record.
Despite premiers East Brighton’s promotion leaving a vacancy to move up the ladder, Stanton wants his club to build towards sustainability.
He sees no value in pinching a premiership by bringing in a raft of recruits.
“From my perspective, if we can play finals again and win a final, that would be a really good outcome for us,” he says.
“As I always say to people, when you’re in Division 2 of a competition, you have to make sure you build the right way.
“You can’t just have a hit year and then all of a sudden you drop away again, there’s no value in that for our club long term.
“We’ve got to keep bringing in that age profile that I was talking about, that they want to be here, enjoy it.
“We’ve got a good facility, we’re an ambitious club that within two to three years we would like to be in a position where we’ve grown to have all the pillars in place.”
Hampton Park is hoping to have Jye King, Josh Stow and Nathan Carver for longer periods next year after injuries sidelined the trio at stages this season.
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