VAFA: Division 1 club-by-club previews
After securing back-to-back promotions, to reach a level it hadn’t been at in almost 40 years, Elsternwick is ready for its next challenge under a new coach. He gives an insight into his plans.
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ELSTERNWICK
A new era has officially arrived at Elsternwick in season 2025.
Ollie Gildea has stepped into the top job, replacing Peter Higginbotham who stood aside at the end of last season, as the Wickers prepare for a new challenge in Division 1, a level the club hasn’t reached in almost 40 years.
Higginbotham led the club from Division 4 to their current competition after being appointed at the end of 2019 - going onto guide the Wickers through Covid.
Gildea himself has seen the ups and downs of Elsternwick, joining as a player in 2013 before taking on the reserves coaching role to eventually being a senior assistant to the man known as Hugo.
“We barely won a game when I came on board, it was a pretty grim time,” Gildea said.
“It’s amazing how far has come in the last few years and I’m excited to be involved in the next steps of where we are going. I’m still in the formative stage of my own role but there’s a really good vibe around the place.
“Hugo and I had a great relationship, he had a fantastic way of empowering the coaching panel and it’s something which I think has held me in good stead.”
Elsternwick is still working away to finalise its list for the new season with the club hopeful of announcing some new recruits in coming weeks.
There has been three departures from last year’s premiership side including Flynn Brosnan (Tarwin).
“Having only a couple is pretty good for is, sometimes you can have a higher number,” Gildea said.
“We have structures which have held us in good stead but no two years are ever really the same. We do have styles but we can go between those when needed.
“Our mantra last year was proving we belong and that’s something we’re going to focus on again this year.
“It looks like it’s going to be a stacked division.”
Elsternwick opens its season away to Ormond.
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