With pre-season preparations well under way and Round 1 quickly approaching, Scoop has gone one-on-one with all 11 senior football coaches ahead of the 2024 McDonalds BFNL season.
COACH: Matt White
Previous Experience/Accolades: 153 AFL Games with Richmond & Port Adelaide, Coburg VFL Line Coach 2022-23
ON THE RECORD
SCOOP: Matt, welcome in to the BFNL coaching ranks, I trust you'll enjoy your time here. The Lions have been the enigma of the competition really for the last two seasons. Beat eventual premiers Melton in 2022 before missing finals and tested all bar Darley for the most part in 2023 and missed the September action again. Where do you start?
MATT WHITE: With the stock we have, aided with a change of direction, it’s a no looking back mentality to be honest. (We're) confident a combination of 'old and new school' pride for the club (and themselves) will regain the desired connection.
SCOOP: What style of footy can we expect to see from the group that will give your proud club every chance of returning to finals?
MW: Exciting.
SCOOP: Coaching stocks have risen over recent years in the BFNL and has proven talent alone is no guarantee of a win on match day. Experience is now in abundance. Who makes up your support network for 2024?
MW: Ex-Sunbury Premiership player Pat Caris (Ruck coach), Matty Power, and Corey Mobilio (ACL injury prompted footy analysis role)
SCOOP: The Clarke Oval used to be a fortress for the Lions - is that theory just a nonsense in footy or can that be a real thing essentially reclaimed as by the club?
MW: This is our plan. Sunbury is my hometown club back then it was the case (fortress). Looking to recapture the notion.
SCOOP: Tell us about your new blokes - Dean Muir, Ben Eales, Jordan Tentonello, Ben Cameron and Brock Landt and what they will bring...
MW: Muir - Voice, competitive smarts - mid/back. Eales - competitive beast, big boy, forward/ruck. Tontenello - classy mid, lean 6'1" highly skilled. Cameron - elusive half forward/mid. Landt - bullish, big, bodied mid.
IDENTIFIED STRENGTHS
MW: Leg speed. Impressive half forward line.
PROJECTED IMPROVEMENT
MW: All round, no ceiling.
PRE-SEASON TRAINING
MW: Really good numbers, solid buy-in across the board. Returned January 15.
MOST UNDER AND OVERRATED STAT IN TODAY'S BFNL FOOTY
Repeat Inside 50s – Underrated, Marks – Overrated
PRACTICE MATCH SCHEDULE
March 9 v Keilor (A @ Craigieburn)
March 23 v Hoppers Crossing (H)
April 6 v Gisborne (A)
PLAYER INS
Ben Eales (Gisborne), Jordan Tentonello (Rupertswood), Dean Muir (East Keilor), Ben Cameron (Kyneton), Seb Morris (Sandhurst), Brock Landt (Rupertswood).
PLAYER OUTS
Ryder Rousch (Melton South), Josiah Garisto (Albion).
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS
Harry Minton-Connell (Williamstown), Jake Sutton (Essendon), Ben Cameron (Coburg), Jack Newitt (Preston), Cody Bramble (Essendon training).
THE DRAW
SCOOP: Even type draw, level with Bacchus Marsh (ranked 7/11). Cop four of last year’s finalists twice including Darley, Melton, East Point and Redan. Just three trips to Ballarat for the home and away season and none post Round 11. Destiny is in their own hands and will need to win at home to feature.
IMPROVERS TIP: (OUTSIDE OF SUNBURY)
MW: Melton South
FLAG TIP: (OUTSIDE OF SUNBURY)
MW: Darley
