Belgrave FNC – 2022 Season Preview

Following a couple of years where they have performed well below their expectations, Belgrave Football Netball Club are excited about season 2022 and what they can achieve, following a pre-season campaign that has set the foundations for long term success.

With good numbers attending for training across the club, the Magpies have been working hard to strengthen the gaps of what they need to do.

With new senior coach Darren Hamilton coming onboard to rebuild the football department into a competitive position, he brings along with him new recruits Will Hamilton, Jet Facey, Omar Nasser and Jackson Barnard to name a few.

“A big focus of our recruitment strategy has been to introduce players around the ages of 18 – 24 as we were lacking in this area,” said club president Julian Schill.

“We have our top age junior under 17’s that will play this year, so the plan is to transition them through the senior club and encourage them to stick around.”

In the football department, the Magpies have set a three-year plan with Hamilton, with the focus being on-field improvement and steering the club back into finals and premiership contention by the end of 2024.

With no expectations of making huge inroads in 2022, the key focus for the senior men’s is to ensure they can enjoy some wins and build the foundations that will set them up for success over a long period of time.

The influence of Hamilton since his arrival at the club has been huge as he has come in with standards and delivered.

“To have someone like him come in with fresh ideas and drive that standard has helped a hell of a lot,” he explained.

“To see all the guys enjoying their football again has been the main thing and it’s great to see they have really bought into the vision that he is trying to sell to his players.”

With the women’s football side, where Schill himself is the coach, it’s all about taking the next step in their journey following a semi-final win against Officer last year.

With a magnificent retention rate of 98% for their playing list, the aim for the Magpie girls is to maintain their good form and make the finals, while challenging themselves to go deeper into the finals campaign should they make it.

The incoming completion of on-site netball courts brings a new level of excitement for the Belgrave netballers, as they will finally get to join the footballers at the same reserve and draw a larger crowd attendance to inspire them for their journey into the future.

Krystyna Gabell returns as A grade coach supported by Amee Williams, Naomi Hargreaves and Rebecca Taylor in the other senior grades, and they have all collectively managed to pick up new players while retaining much of their playing squad from last season.

“It’s going to be a joy to watch the netballers this year, particularly because they will be playing at the same precinct as us,” Schill explained.

“They have had a good program since being introduced to the league and we want to continue to strengthen that.”

A key focus for Belgrave this year as they look ahead to a full season of football and netball is to bring the community together and enjoy themselves again, with the smiles on the faces of all associated with Belgrave the main reward.

“Something we can look forward to this year is the opportunity celebrate the clubs 1000^th match against Gembrook Cockatoo on Saturday 30^th July,” Schill said.

“We’re putting plans together to make it a successful day by inviting past players back and really celebrate the people who have walked through the door at Belgrave.

“It will be nice to celebrate the history of the club, just to show how much it means to everyone.”