North Brunswick eye new chapter under new coach

After just falling short in the last two seasons, the North Brunswick Bulls are ready to take the step towards the ultimate glory. Here’s an insight into the plan under a new coach.

North Brunswick is looking to remain towards the top of the ladder. Photo: Dennis Timm/VAFA Media.

North Brunswick is embracing every piece of change coming its way in 2025.

The Bulls have been around the mark in the VAFA’s Division 3 the last two seasons but will this year write a new chapter in the club’s history.

They’re almost starting with a clean slate – from a coaching point of view at least.

Domenic Fontana has been appointed as the new senior coach, replacing Adria Sipala in the role.

Fontana is a former assistant coach with the Western Jets and has worked with several other local clubs.

Sipala’s former assistant coach Chris Tsadarkis has also moved on with the search ongoing for a reserves coach.

While others might be labelling North Brunswick as the premiership favourites, with grand finalists Canterbury and St John’s promoted, Fontana is set about getting a strong structure in place first.

“As much as I know the club finished first last year, we’re adopting change,” he said.

“There’s no continuation of any coaching staff from last season so there’s naturally going to be a lot of change.

“We’ve got an expectation internally about what the goal is this year but the biggest part for us short-term is adapting to the new game plan, the new strategies and the new culture we’re trying to bring in.

“Maybe around June and July then we can assess what we want to achieve – the wins, losses – have a numerical number connected.

“Right now that’s not attached, it’s about the culture, the feel of the club, how many guys are on the track.”

Training numbers have been strong for the Bulls who had between 35-40 players on the track.

Those have included new faces and the familiar ones who lifted their side to a preliminary final in 2024.

“The goal for me since I’ve been there is to try and turn the club into a bit more of a professional space,” Fontana said.

“I’m not trying to turn it into the Western Jets or a competition like that. It’s about creating a safe environment where everyone feels they belong.

“It’s a very good representation of the area.

“Obviously there is a lot of movement between clubs because we’re battling with clubs in the area who can pay players.”

When it comes to the on-field product, Fontana has a clear of idea of what he wants to see from his playing group.

“It’s definitely going to be exciting,” he said.

“It’s going to be an analytical based game plan. The way coaches draw it up on a whiteboard before every game isn’t how a game is going to be played.

“We’re not going to embrace chaos but we’re going to anticipate it.”

The fixture for the Division 3 season is yet to be released.