Ready to go … Whittlesea coach Peter Bugden is certain his team is ready to take on the league’s best in Division One next season. 53178 Picture: EMILY LANE
By Luke D’Anello
THE euphoria of this year’s Northern Football League (NFL) Division Two premiership is now a distant memory for Whittlesea, as it prepares to take on the league’s elite in 2011.
The Eagles will move to Division One for the first time with a young list, but a hunger to succeed.
Whittlesea coach Peter Bugden said his side won’t simply aim to avoid relegation from the top flight.
“My talks with the players to date is about us playing finals,” Bugden, who is entering his fourth year as coach, said.
“I know that other Division Two teams come up and say, ‘we want to stay there and consolidate,’ but I think that’s not really lifting the bar to the standard you want to achieve.
“We’re going up there with a group of players with an average age of 21. We may lack some experience, but we certainly won’t lack ability, we won’t lack enthusiasm and we won’t lack commitment to play.
“We’re a very young side, but (the premiership) last year was probably a bit of a reward for all the hard work from all the younger players, and some of the older players, to get up and have a shot at first division.
“We know it’s going to be bloody difficult, but we’re confident a lot of our guys grew up playing for the jumper, and that’s the way we’re going to go about it.
“We want to have pride in the jumper and the way we play.”
Bugden confirmed tough midfielder Garrett Heenan will again captain the Eagles’ senior team.
There are no noteworthy signings rubber stamped, but some new faces have attended training and Bugden is hopeful the club will bolster its playing stocks.
Premiership player Steven Dorsett has retired, while Troy Jinnette and Travis Stevens appear likely to return to South Morang.
Training numbers have been strong, with 75 players hitting the field in the early stages of pre-season.
“Everything’s looking good for us to sign a couple of quality players, and we’ll be more than competitive.
“But my experience with football and players is until they run out with the jumper on, they aren’t yours.”
Some of the Eagles’ more experienced players have also been afforded the luxury of an extended break.
“We’ve had three hard years of campaigning to get to Division One, so it’s been important that a few of our senior players have a little bit of time off and renew the enthusiasm for what is a big challenge ahead.
“Those boys will come back fit after Christmas.”
The Eagles’ first practice match is against Diamond Creek on 6 February.
The 2010 premiership was Whittlesea’s first since 1988, when it was a member of the Riddell District Football League.
