By Joshua Ward
Whilst their Women’s program flourished during an interrupted 2021 season, an inability to string together wins put a dampener on what was meant to be a massive year for Blackburn Football Club. EFNL Media’s Joshua Ward chatted to Senior Coaches Brendan Allen and Jules Hay about what 2022 has in store for the Panthers.
After a frustratingly inconsistent 2021 season, Blackburn(‘s men) will be looking to right the ship in 2022.
Following a Grand Final appearance in 2019, the Burners had a rollercoaster year in 2021, finishing sixth and with a 4-5 record in one of the tightest Premier Division’s in recent memory.
All four wins came on the road, with the Burners yet to win at home since the redevelopment of their new rooms at Morton Park.
The Burners have been rather quiet on the transfer front so far in 2022 but have unfortunately lost star defender Max Otten to a rebuilding Templestowe, in Division Two.
Senior coach Brendan Allen wasn’t downplaying Otten’s departure, stating recently that his loss was a big one heading into season 2022.
“Disappointed to lose him, he was a 10-year player at the club and a big part of it all, but these things at footy clubs,” Allen said.
Allen also confirmed that they would see less of captain Patrick Contin this season due to work commitments.
Panther’s fans could also be seeing less of Best and Fairest winner Mackenzie Doreian this season as well, with the gritty midfielder signing on with VFL outfit Northern Bullants this season.
“That’s what we want our players doing, pushing for the highest level,” said Allen.
“He’s becoming good enough to play at that level while it’s only making us stronger.”
Doreian has been listed at the Box Hill Hawks the last few seasons but has moved to the Bullants to get more opportunity in the VFL.
“(He) Didn’t get the opportunity [last year], they were fairly healthy and they’ve [now] got a lot of ex-AFL players,” Allen said of Doreian and his time at Box Hill City Oval.
Blackburn have been on the training track over three months already this pre-season, kicking off in early November last year and returning early January this year, as they look to press their finals claims forwards in 2022.
“(The) Boys are fit, moving well, which is expected this time of year with no soft tissue injuries
“Things are going well,” Allen said.
Whilst they haven’t begun training at Morton Park this preseason, they have seen the new lights installed there. Allen said the boys were excited to play under them, including in their season opener against Balwyn on Good Friday.
“I don’t think they want another day game of footy again, they want to play at night by the sounds of it,” he said.
“The boys are pretty excited and to play Balwyn in Round One is a pretty important match albeit there’s another 17 after that, but it can really give you momentum for the rest of the year, especially coming up against a quality opponent.”
The Blackburn Women on the other hand come into the season with plenty of momentum, with both their Premier Division and Division Three sides having terrific 2021 seasons.
Their Premier Division side finished top of the table and stayed unbeaten in nine games, whilst their Third Division side finished second with an 8-2 record.
The senior side has a new coach in Jules Hay, who brings across experience from the VFL and VFLW level having been assistant coach at Collingwood and Williamstown.
Pre-season is in full swing heading into the season, with the Blackburn Women having 12 training sessions before the New Year.
“We were out at Monash University, we had a really amazing ground for those 12 sessions under lights, which was really good as well,” Hay said.
“We had a good turnout, speaking to a lot of other clubs the turnout has been really low because of COVID, so we were getting 30 or 40 girls in that squad training, which was really good.”
There has been plenty of turnover though this offseason, with 10 players set to leave Morton Park.
Among those out is Premier Division Team of the Year halfback Jade Wise as well as Ellie Cleland, Shae Denny, Caitlin Bell, and Chrissy Lagos.
“We’ll be relying on a bit of a rebuild and we’ll be looking towards our youth,” said Hay ahead of her first season at the helm.
“We’ve had about eight Under 18’s come up and half of them are in a NAB program.”
Among those younger players is Oakleigh Charger Erin Woodford. At the time of writing Woodford has played both NAB League(W) games for the Chargers, averaging 13 disposals, 4 marks, 10.5 kicks and 4.5 rebound 50’s in those two games.
“I’ve only seen her train, I haven’t seen her play yet, but from what the [Oakleigh] coach said AFLW clubs are circling around her,” Hay said.
“We’re pretty lucky that she’s come down to training and dominated in the games and things we’ve had as well.”
With the losses though Hay isn’t expecting too much this season for the Blackburn women. However, she does hope to build a strong platform for years to come.
“My measure is less about where we finish on the ladder and more about making sure that at the end of this season that we retain our list,” she said.
“I’d like to at least keep 90 percent of our players at the end of the season because then we’ve got something to build on going into 2023.”
Blackburn kick off their Senior Men’s campaign at home to Balwyn on Good Friday, whilst Jules Hay’s side travel to take on South Croydon on April 23. At time of writing only three division of Women’s Football have had their fixture released.