East Point FNC
East Point - Season Draw
The Kangas led the comp in the last two seasons played, and while their draw for 2021 won’t be easy, East Point fans may yet get their ‘three-peat’. Scoop will keep serving up the pros and cons of the fixture for every BFNL club over the next few weeks.
East Point
Draw rating points: 105
2021 draw ranking: #8
Play TWICE:Sebastopol, Sunbury, Melton, North Ballarat, Ballarat, Redan
Travel EAST:FOUR times - Bacchus Marsh (Rd4), Melton (Rd5), Melton South (Rd9), Sunbury (Rd14)
EAST 'highway travel' record (2018 & 2019 home and away seasons):Played 7 Won 3 Lost 4 @43% win rate
PROS:Leave Ballarat just ONCE after round NINE - (Sunbury in Round 14)
CONS: Back-to-back highway travel with AWAY games against Bacchus Marsh in Round 4 and Melton in Round 5
- Play FOUR of 2019 Finalists TWICE: Sebastopol, Sunbury, Melton, Redan
Comment: The Kangas were the best team in the comp in 2018 and 2019. They will be hard to beat again after retaining nearly all of the 2018 and 2019 Premiership teams in a bid for an amazing 'three-peat'. Their draw will ask enough of them in 2021 and given their number one standing in the competition so it should.
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East Point 2023 Season Preview
With preseason preparations well under way and Round 1 fast approaching, Scoop goes one-on-one with all 11 senior coaches ahead of the 2023 McDonalds BFNL season.
CLUB: East Point
COACH: Jackson Merrett (1st Season)
2022 Home & Away Record: 5th (10-6, 110.33%)
Scoop: Jackson, congratulations on your coaching appointment at the Kangas for 2023. Where did the interest in the job start, I mean you're still quite young (29) to be a head coach?
Jackson Merrett: When I finished up at Essendon four years ago, I knew I wanted to coach if/when the right opportunity presented.
S: While losing Mickitja Rottumah-Onus and Jacob Brown is not ideal - on paper you're still right in the premiership hunt. But it's fair to say the group has been 'up' for a while, including two flags in 2018 and 2019, how are the motivation levels?
JM: I'm confident the group will thrive under a new structured game plan. The young players too will add pressure to the selection table as we look to add more leg speed. It’s exciting times ahead for the club.
S: The Johnston brothers are bona fide A-Graders in the comp. Having seen plenty of footy over your journey, what impresses you most about them?
JM: Their will to win and get the most out of themselves. They drive standards and lead by example.
S: Brad Whittaker missed just about all of 2022 with a freakish leg injury – how is his return tracking?
JM: Brad had a setback before Christmas but with a measured build up over the remaining pre-season we're confident he'll be right to Round 1.
S:The Kangas have been blessed with quality juniors for some time now - is this the year we can expect you to experiment with a few more or are you more likely to go with 'the proven' until form says otherwise?
JM: We're keen to continue developing our next generation. I think we had as many as 10 debutants last year from our Under 19s. And look out for the emerging crop up from our Under 17s also (played in Grand Final versus Redan last season) - they haven't missed a session. We're excited about the potential growth of our first and second-year players.
S: What are some of the identified strengths of the club?
JM: The Cohesion and acceptance of the group regardless of age. They have a will to play for one another with a collective buy-in from everyone.
S: Where do you expect to see your projected improvement come from?
JM: Structured game plan across the board. For example, when challenged or under the pump we're all on the same page of what to do next. A couple of times last year we were blown out of the water in a single quarter and couldn't stop the bleeding. Also, an injection of leg speed will sharpen us up, especially in defence and on the wings.
S: How has pre-season training looked?
JM: We had a five-week block before Christmas. Then returned two nights a week since late January.
S: Who do you expect to be the biggest improvers this year? (Outside of your club)
JM: Sunbury
S: Who is your flag tip? (Outside of your club)
JM: Sebastopol will be the benchmark.
KEY INS:
M.Williams (Mt Clear Juniors)
PLAYER OUTS:
M.Rottumah-Onus (Mallee Tigers), J.Brown (Keilor), J.Maher, J.Gallagher, I.Quick.
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS:
Nil
Scoop's East Point prediction: 4th - 6th
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East Point 2025 Season Preview
With the 2025 season on the horizon, Scoop has caught up with all our senior footy coaches as we build towards an epic Round 1!
Following a rollercoaster of an inaugural season under Joe Carmody, the Kangas will look to bounce back and go one better after a grand final defeat.
SCOOP: Joe, super effort last year to make the grand final and acquit yourselves well against the Bloods. How did the group process the season and grand final loss?
JOE CARMODY: On the whole a very encouraging year for us particularly in the area of individual growth. We were in the grand final up until very late in the game against a quality side in Melton. Plenty of upside to be drawn from the season moving forward.
S: What did you learn about the group in your first year and where you're at in the pecking order?
JC: Hard working with a willingness to get better. There's plenty of talent and quality youth at our club. Just knowing we can compete against any opposition gives us great confidence and belief.
S: East Point remain unbeaten at home since Round 16, 2023 (vs Sebastopol) - your club aside, which team (if any) do you feel has an old school, home ground advantage?
JC: Sunbury! As a player and a coach, I’ve been on the end of a few hidings over the years. You must defend or risk chasing the game on the big ground.
S: More players at East Point (15) averaged 16 or more disposals per game in 2024 - Sunbury (14), Ballarat (14), Melton (13), Darley (10). Is there anything to see here? What do those numbers tell you?
JC: A combination of a few things - the way we play, i.e. controlled possession. It also tells us we can win our own ball, trust the depth and the system.
S: While scoring power at East Point has been a feature for a number of years now - you must be rapt with the way the group embraced your team defence strategy after restricting Melton to 39 inside 50's in the Grand Final? Says a lot for the group's chances ahead of your second year in charge.
JC: The team defence remains a work in progress. While we showed signs of fatigue late in the season we didn't concede numbers of any major concern. It was more so we were unable to score as heavily on the back of that team defence as we would have liked.
S: You lose promising young forward Strahan Robinson and the experience of Jordy Taylor - who picks up the slack?
JC: On Strahan's replacement option - we do like a fourth marking option forward so we're leaning to Joe Fraser, Ryder Lavery or Joel van Meel as the three (likely) rotating ruck options to spend time forward. If we go small Isaac Hucker or a promoted U/19 player could find their way in a pocket for example. And Jordy's replacement - well Liam Canny (21yo) is ready to go. We're confident he's going to be a super player for us over a long period. Joe Dodd will also see more minutes through the midfield as a result of Taylor's departure.
S: You had the fewest number of players (32) of all last year’s finalists represent the club at senior level. Do you think it will take a similar "favourable' run with injury that will determine your fate - i.e. another grand final appearance or are you blessed with the luxury of the soldier in, soldier out theory?
JC: Lots of players were stiff to miss out last year but we stuck with the younger group to get more games into them rather than throwing them around. Hopefully that decision has built confidence levels on the back of the faith we have shown in them getting the job done.
S: Tell us about the newbies at the club and their likely roles....
JC: Jack Romeril - fit utility - not sure how much we'll see of Jack given his work commitments. Matt Romeril - Half-back / Mid option. Sam Romeril - Wing option that will allow Liam Canny to move into an on-ball role for us.
S: Given the longer season are you likely to rotate your midfield guns through the bench or stick with the 2024 theory of resting them forward?
JC: Well Matty and Jordy (Johnston), Jacko (Merrett) and Jacob (Brown) work it out between themselves if and when they decide to come off. Matty has proven how dangerous he can be resting forward with seven goals against the Lakers last year.
S: Who is likely to give Joel Van Meel a lending hand with the ruck duties this season? His output and willingness to compete in 2024 was something else....
JC: Yes, Joel's contribution played a large part in us making it as far we did. As for relief, Ryder Lavery (19yo) and Joe Fraser (21yo) will be given an opportunity when Joel needs a spell resting forward or off the bench.
PLAYER INS:
J. Romeril (Skipton), S. Romeril (Skipton), M. Romeril (Skipton)
PLAYER OUTS:
J. Taylor (Qld), S. Robinson (Port Fairy), T. Conlan (VAFA)
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS:
N/A
PRACTICE MATCH SCHEDULE:
March 22- vs Strathfieldsaye (A)
IMPROVERS TIP (OUTSIDE OF EAST):
JC: Redan
FLAG TIP (OUTSIDE OF EAST):
JC: Darley
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East Point 2026 BFNL Preview
With Round 1 fast approaching, Scoop has caught up with all ten senior footy coaches as they prepare for season 2026!
With some familiar faces departing Eastern Oval, it will take some next gen Roos to lead the way this year.
Scoop: Interesting off season for you Joe - how has the club processed the departures of four integral Premiership players?
Joe Carmody: All four were great servants of the club but we moved on pretty quickly to be honest. We have a new leadership group led by captain Liam Canny and a playing group who are invested in improving individually and collectively to take the club forward. Great opportunity for this group to take the club into a new era.
S: The next tier of seemingly bottomless talent at the Kangas will get their chance - who are you most excited about impacting games in 2026?
JC: We are very fortunate that when we lose players that we can bring in and develop players from our junior system. We think Kep Jones will be ready to make an impact straight away in the midfield. Jarrod Joyce showed last year that he has untapped potential. Alex Molan, Brodie Willems, Liam Howard, Jesse Cairns, Jack Jeffrey and Geordie Slater have now played three or four years of senior footy and are ready to go to the next level. Fraser Molan, Joe McGuane, Cooper Glenwright-McGuane, Sam McDonald, Dylan Hiscock and Zane Lubeek will all get their chance as well.
S: Does the loss of Bryson McDougall and the Johnston brothers in particular make it more difficult to send Jacob Brown behind the ball - is he your likely Bona fide forward alongside Jarrod Joyce?
JC: We will most likely settle with Brown and Joyce up forward. Jacob Brown kicked 50 goals last season and Jarrod Joyce was a standout in his first year in senior footy. We want to be more dynamic forward of the ball and having some of the youngsters at the fall of the ball will allow us to keep the ball inside 50 or provide greater pressure on the opposition when they try to exit our forward 50.
S: Tell us about the newbie from Cobden and his role/player type…
JC: Sam Lucas was a priority recruiting target for us last year. Key back that can defend and come off and intercept. He will provide plenty of rebound off half back. Strengthens our back six alongside Merrett, Cue, Howard, Geue, Lubeek, Fraser, Lual, etc. A high-quality person off field and has fit in seamlessly at the club.
S: Any chance we’ll see young gun Lachie Charleston make a return to his home club after a stint on Port Adelaide’s list or is it likely Werribee VFL will have the final say?
JC: Lachie is very keen to play at East Point when he can. He’s a real talent and a great young man with an infectious personality. We hope he has a great year at Werribee and that he can play at East Point when available.
AREAS OF IMPROVEMENT
JC: We lost to 3 clubs last year -Darley, Sunbury, and Melton. Our midfield got smashed in each of those losses both structurally and spread from the contest. We will look to have a more even contribution through the midfield to support Mickitja and Doddy. Greater defensive spread from the midfield and forward half are major areas of improvement that will allow us to create more scoring opportunities off turnover.
INS & OUTS
In: L. Charleston (Port Adelaide AFL), T. Brown (Hepburn), J. Hogan (Hepburn), S. Lucas (Cobden), J. Marshall (Buninyong)
Out: S. Romerill (Modewarre), J. Van Meel (Dunnstown), B. McDougall (Springbank), J. Johnston (Nyah), M. Johnston (Darwin/Skipton)
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS
Lachie Charleston (Werribee).
PRACTICE MATCH SCHEDULE
March 7 - North Ballarat v East Point (next gen match sim)
March 21 - Strathfieldsaye v East Point
CLUB IMPROVERS TIP
JC: North Ballarat if they can stay healthy. Will be right up there with the additions of Lockett, Glover, and Brinker-Ritchie.
FLAG TIP
Darley – they still have a great mix of talented experience and youth.
SCOOP SAYS
Given the Kangas top end departures, some externally are expecting them to fall off the cliff, but I’m not so sure.
Expecting a development year to a large degree from Carmody’s group but they will be mighty hard to beat at home.
A finals berth would be a par with their outs - tipping there’s enough scope in their next gen talent to improve enough under the guidance of some experienced heads to sneak into finals. Anything thereafter a bonus in my book.
Projected finish: 5th-7th
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East Point FNC
- Club Notes: