SFNL: How Ashwood plans to mix it the best of Division 3 in 2025

Ashwood targeted a specific type of player this off-season in search of a balance which it believes will work against the best in the competition.

Ashwood aimed for experience this off season. Picture: SUPPLIED.

The Magpies are confident they have found the “right blend” to challenge for the premiership in 2025.

After making a preliminary final in 2023, Ashwood targeted youth to rejuvenate what was an ageing list.

The Magpies failed to reach the same heights in 2024 but saw enough in the youngsters to only want to “top up with some experience” this summer.

Ashwood has welcomed Mitch Wilkinson (Noble Park), Liam Harrington (returning), Tom Smith (returning), Drew Parker (overseas), Todd Burger (Chirnside Park), Steven Naylor (Yarra Junction) and Jake Rowe (Forrest Hill) in its latest signing spree.

Coach Michael Decorrado said the Magpies' strategy was to help the youth “mix it with the big guys”.

“We had a chat in the off-season about how we went in 2024 and we were just so young, now we’ve kept all the young kids it’s time to top up with some experience,” he said.

Mitch Wilkinson is a welcome addition to the Magpies. Picture: SUPPLIED.

“We’ve targeted guys in their late 20s, early 30s, who can come on board and add some experience to the senior side – those guys fit that need.

“We are realistic about last year, we copped a lot of injuries and then we were just really young but we were nowhere near the top couple of teams.

“We sort of sat back and said ‘how can we mix it with the big guys in the comp’ and this was the best way to do it.

“Keep the list we already had and then add some experience … our aspirations are to push for finals and win finals.”

Ashwood isn’t shying away from how disappointing 2024 was but is optimistic with the right mix it can be a premiership contender this year.

“2024 just didn’t go to plan with injuries and guys going overseas during the year, we just got decimated,” Decorrado said.

“But at the same time you look at some of the results, we knocked off CPL at home, knocked off Lyndhurst when they were fourth at the time.

“We were right in it against Frankston Dolphins at the end of the year but we also got flogged at times too, partly due to being so young, inexperienced and pushed around the ball.

“You look at those results and go ‘I think we have enough young talent there, they just need a little bit of help from more experienced bodies and heads’.

“We wanted to get that right blend, now once we have, I am confident we can push it with the best.”

Ashwood coach Michael Decorrado speaks to his players. Picture: SUPPLIED.

Bolstering the top side was the first box for Ashwood to tick.

The next was improving its depth and allowing the under-19s who were filling the reserves to develop and enjoy under-age football.

“We wanted to A, make sure the senior side is able to be competitive and win finals, B, make a reserves side not have to rely on fill-ins,” Decorrado said.

“And then C, and an important one, make sure we have a competitive under-19s side.

“We had to ask a bunch of under-19s to play reserves (last year) but we’re in a position now where we can say ‘alright guys, go back and enjoy under-19s footy’.

“Getting A, B and C right in the off-season was really important.”

The Magpies are hopeful on several other signings over the next few weeks.

Ashwood aimed for experience this off season. Picture: SUPPLIED.

DECORRADO’S RECRUITS BREAKDOWN

MITCH WILKINSON: “A part of our strategy in the off season was get our back six right, he comes in as a centre half-back. He’s only 24, he comes in as an important recruit.”

LIAM HARRINGTON AND TOM SMITH: “A couple of returning players in Liam Harrington who is back from overseas and Tommy Smith who returns as well. They’re both hard-running wingmen with a lot of experience under their belt.”

DREW PARKER: “We’ve picked up a nice half forward by the name of Drew Parker, who has played a bit in Canada funnily enough, he’s come back to Australia and reached out. He played a bit of footy up in Banyule and juniors at Montmorency. He hasn’t played much open-age senior football but he’s been very impressive at training, he’s just a running machine.”

TODD BURGER: “We picked up Todd from Chirnside Park, he’s just a really good key defender, there were a couple holes down back we needed to fill and he was one of them. He’s an intercept marker who will be an important one for us.”

STEPHEN NAYLOR: “Stephen Naylor from Yarra Junction, quality midfielder, tough as nails and really good skills who is also a goalkicker – we needed to boost up our midfield a bit more.”

JAKE ROWE: “Jake Rowe from Forest Hill, a small, smart, half-forward flanker who can kick a lot of goals, he’s more experience that we needed.”