Old Paradians coach David Boundy sets sights on VAFA Division 2 finals after top-four finish leaves club wanting more

A BRIEF taste of finals in 2014 has left Old Paradians wanting more, with coach David Boundy declaring the club wants to make a real impact over the VAFA season.

s48dt207 f1 Football. Bulleen Templestowe v Old Paradians. Old Paradians coach David Boundy.

A BRIEF taste of finals in 2014 has left Old Paradians wanting more.

The Bundoora club finished fourth in Victorian Amateur Football Association Division 2 last year, but was found wanting in a low-scoring semi-final loss to Old Eltham Collegians.

The 7.11 (53) to 3.12 (30) defeat only served to whet the appetite for Paradians coach David Boundy, who is intent on engineering a return to finals this year.

“We did make finals last year, which was pleasing,” Boundy said.

“Unfortunately we did go out in the first round.

“I want to win finals and I want to continually win finals as a coach.

“That’s definitely our aim to make it and then from there have a real impact.”

Pre-season matches against fellow Division 2 teams Northern Blues and Melbourne High School Old Boys have given Boundy confidence his team will be around the mark again.

David Boundy has set a lofty target for Old Paradians this year. Picture: Kris Reichl.

But the club is showing no signs of complacency, tipping the race for finals positions to be fierce.

“We’ve played three practice matches, two against sides that we’ll play this year,” Boundy said.

“I would expect a pretty tight competition this year.

“I’m not sure too much about Richmond (Central) ... but those two sides are going to be very good and I’d anticipate the sides that were pretty competitive last year will be that again this year.”

He said the club’s primary focus throughout pre-season had been improving its fitness base, adding greater consistency would be one of Paradians’ strengths.

“Last year we had a really good stretch where we won about seven or eight games in a row early on in the year,” he said.

“Then we had a bit of an up-and-down patch after that.

“(We will be) trying to minimise the errors and keep a consistent performance, regardless of who we’re playing against.”

Paradians open their 2015 season with an away fixture against Northern Blues at Ruthven Reserve on Saturday.

In Division 3, La Trobe University travels to Whitehorse Reserve to face Eley Park Sharks in Round 1.