SFNL: What to expect from a Soldatos-steered Cranbourne in 2025

New Cranbourne coach Angelo Soldatos plans to bring a raft of fresh ideas in hope of bringing the Eagles similar success.

Nicholas Darbyshire. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Cranbourne will “get creative” under new coach Angelo Soldatos in 2025.

The Eagles, who have played in two of the past three Southern league grand finals, have made a change at the top.

Premiership coach Steve O’Brien is handing the reins to Soldatos in his first senior gig.

Like most coaches, Soldatos wants the Eagles to be defensively sound.

But his method won’t be to just limit scoring – Soldatos wants his Eagles to have an emphasis on causing turnover to score themselves.

“Everyone wants to be solid defensively, but for me it’s not about being dour defensively, it’s about winning the ball back,” he said.

“You score from turnover so we want to turn the ball over, a lot of the stuff I will bring in around defence will be trying to cause more turnovers.

“It’s probably just mixing up a few things behind the ball and just a few different things with the ball as well.”

Angelo Soldatos (R) with former coach Steve O'Brien

The Eagles lost key forwards Marc Holt and Kirk Dickson in last year’s off season and small forward Tyson Barry to Frankston Bombers this year.

With a need for goal kickers, Soldatos says the Eagles will prioritise some additions forward but will “get creative” with what they already have too.

“Forward of the footy is something we’ll look to bring in but we’ve got some players on the list who I think can help us in that part of the ground as well,” he said.

“We’ll look to get a couple (of recruits) but we’ll get creative too.”

Cranbourne has worked hard bringing former Eagles back to the nest.

Anthony Fischer and brothers Cal and Ben Pola have returned after stints at other clubs.

Soldatos says the Eagles are aiming to bolster depth with recruits and growth from within.

Ellis Medal winner Zak Roscoe.

“Getting guys who had played senior footy with us before back through the door was a priority for us,” he said.

“All the guys who have come back have played senior footy with us before, have gone on and played good senior footy elsewhere, so to get them back is really positive.

“We’re working a few at the moment, like everyone, the competition is getting better, there’s some A-grade talent coming into the comp.

“We’re working hard to recruit but we’ve also got some really good young talent we want to give opportunity to, so it’s about getting that balance right.

“We’re being specific of what we want to get in but we’re working pretty hard.”

Soldatos knows there will be a gust of changes at Cranbourne but hopes there will be similar results.

“What Steve (O’Brien) did for the group, the club has been super successful, but I am new, there’s new coaches, so we’re going to be different but hopefully that correlates to similar success,” he said.