Speed and ball skills essential combination for VAFA club Williamstown CYMS

FAST ball movement and slick ball skills will be the flavour of Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier C again this year.

VAFA footy: Therry Penola V Williamstown CYMS. Williamstown coach Matt Montebello. Picture: Josie Hayden

FAST ball movement and slick ball skills.

That will be the flavour of Victorian Amateur Football Association Premier C again this year, says Williamstown CYMS coach Mathew Montebello.

The CYs tasted Premier C for the first time in 2015 after claiming the Division 1 flag the previous season.

The step up took some adjusting­ — the CYs won just two of their first nine games before finishing with seven victories.

But a year of experience has given Montebello’s side a better understanding of what’s expected.

“You always want to figure in the top four — last year that was still our aim, but we were also aware of that unsurety­ of what (Premier C) would be like,” he said.

“We don’t have that as an excuse anymore.

“We’re more aware of the style of footy and we’ve catered­ our pre-season according to that — high speed ball movement and more efficient­ skills by foot.

“It was tough backing up from the grand final but the boys are in a different headspace. This pre-season we’ve had a solid 30 to 35 on the track at minimum.”

The CYs will also field a different team, with key forward Nic Ebinger (Williamstown VFL) and utility Luke Molan (retired) no longer at Fearon Reserve.

The club has also lost Phil Johnson and Sean McVernon to the travel bug, while 2015 best-and-fairest Thomas Johnstone looks likely to spend the year with Williamstown. On the positive side, 2014 grand final best-on-ground Matthew John has been tipped for a big year, while Nic Holdsworth (overseas), Finlay Adamson (injury) and Tim Murphy (overseas) are returning.

“I think the list is just as strong, it’s just a different type of mix,” Montebello said. “When you look on paper, it’s a balanced team. Our game style will be built on less reliance on kicking it to Nic Ebinger or Luke Molan. Players understand their different roles in the team. We want more of an even spread.”

While only two-thirds of the side’s best 22 have been available for practice matches against Anglesea and Bungaree, Montebello said there had been plenty of positives to take from the pre-season campaign.

Williamstown CYMS starts its campaign against Old Camberwell Grammarians on Saturday.