Yarra Valley Water InFocus 2025 | Berwick

By Josh Ward.

The young Wickers will be look to continue improving in both the men’s and women’s competitions this season.

Berwick’s senior men’s side will once again compete in the top flight after surviving relegation in 2024.

Former West Coast and Collingwood player Andrew Williams has taken over as head coach following Clint Evans’ departure.

The former Northern Blues head of development and senior assistant and Monbulk head coach says it’s been a positive start to life at Edwin Flack Reserve.

“Got a young group and they’re just keen to learn and develop and get as much out of ourselves as we can,” Williams said.

“All the signs are tracking really well, training’s been super, we’ve had really good numbers. It’s been really positive (seeing them) learn, grow and get better.”

There’ve been some losses throughout the offseason, with VFL-players such as Deng Andrew and Wal Wuol among the list of departures this season.

Despite this, Williams says that there’ll be plenty of opportunities for some of the younger and newer players to the group.

“Reputation doesn’t really count for much if you’re not prepared to do the work and want to play the way we want to play.

“The most encouraging thing’s been we haven’t had anyone not put their best foot forward. It’s been super positive.”

That is just one of the positives so far this offseason, with another being the return of forward Jordan Andrews.

Since departing Berwick in 2021, Andrews has gone on to kick 116 goals in 52 matches with MPFNL club Dromana.

“He’s a good club person, he’s going to be super important for our forward structure and the way we want to set up forward of the ball.”

Ex-Dandenong Stingray Tahj De La Rue has also joined from AFL Outer East club Pakenham, with Williams impressed by his work rate so far.

“He’s a great kid with a great attitude towards footy and he’s come in wanting to play the best footy he can. It’s been a seamless (transition) from what I’ve seen.”

Former Frankston defender, and Berwick captain, Will Arthurson is also set to make a return to the field after an ACL injury saw him miss all of 2024.

“He’s a super professional the way he goes about it, he leads from the front in all aspects. It’s going to be great to have him back on board on the ground and around the club.”

With a young list, Williams is hopeful that the side can be competitive if they can play to their strengths.

“We want to gain respect, keep learning, keep developing, put our best foot forward and compete every week. There’s no ceiling where we think we can get to.”

Berwick kicks off its season with a trip to Zerbes Reserves to face Doncaster East.

Meanwhile it’s women’s side will be looking to build on a promising return to the women’s competition last season which saw them play finals in Division 2.

Steve Woolfe and Grant Walker will continue as co-coaches following the departure of Simon Mehegan midway through last season.

Woolfe says there’s been some change in the side, with some players departing and others coming across from different leagues.

“(There’s) a couple of former Berwick juniors returning…there’s probably around four to five that have come back,” Woolfe said.

Among its returning players includes Jayde Smith who’s spent the last three years with Southern club Narre South.

The return of former juniors continues a recurring theme for the Wickers who built their side last year purely on its junior program.

“Showing (junior players) the loyalty and the pathway through the entire club is massive.”

That pathway will be further boosted this season, with five of its Under 18 girls from last year set to take the step up into senior footy.

“Next year though will see a bigger increase of Under 18s coming into the lineup.”

With a young group yet again, a key focus will be continuing to make life tricky for sides travelling down to Edwin Flack Reserve.

“(We want) to use our run and carry out there because traditionally Eastern grounds aren’t (as) big.”

And with Division 2 looking set to be competitive this season with Beacy’s inclusion alongside Mooroolbark, Woolfe’s overall goal is to continue to be competitive.

“We just want to be competitive, we just want to consolidate because we’re pretty much one year into a rebuild.”

The inclusion of Beaconsfield will see the renewal of the two clubs' rivalry against one another, with both senior women’s outfits set to face one another for the first time.

“It’ll be really good to have that Berwick-Beacy rivalry back…over the years (it’s been dubbed) the ‘Battle of the Creek’.”

Berwick’s women’s side kicks off its season with a matchup against fellow young side Blackburn at Morton Park.