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: Joe Carmody
PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE/ACCOLADES: Ballarat FNC Senior Coach
ON THE RECORD
SCOOP: Hey Joe - welcome back to the BFNL coaching ranks - how was the year off personally and how did you end up at the Kangas?
JOE CARMODY: Good break. Burnt out after stint at Ballarat. Unfortunately ousted in the 2022 Prelim. While I enjoyed a breather the want to coach (again) was always there. When Jackson Merrett indicated he wasn't going around again (as coach) I was approached by the club. I'm familiar with most of the group too having taught (school) or coached against them - they're a good bunch of blokes. Exciting times ahead.
SCOOP: The Kangas finished off the season well with a couple of finals wins - where do you think the boys are at?
JC: Difficult to gauge given we finished 6th. We look forward to working with our young players - fully aware that will have its ups and downs - but we're up for the challenge and fast tracking their progress.
SCOOP: The club must be rapt with a strong bodied mid like Mikitja Rottumah-Onus returning to the club. Players like him are hard to find...
JC: Fittest I’ve seen him despite an interrupted pre-season (appendix). He's an inside bull who can extract the ball - adds depth to our midfield - and will ask questions of opposition defence in one-on-one situations forward if and when required forward.
SCOOP: With Alex Molan back from the Rebels full time, your midfield stocks are on the rise. Just curious, are you in the Jordy Johnston predominately forward or mid camp? Nice problem to have..
JC: There will definitely be midfield time for Jordy but one-on-ones forward would be the ideal. Molan and Rottumah-Onus will add to our midfield options allowing JJ to spend more time forward. He's a very dangerous player.
SCOOP: Young forward Strahan Robinson rose to prominence in the second half of last year - how's he travelling?
JC: Training at GWV Rebels, and made the list. We're excited for him and welcome his return subject to availability.
IDENTIFIED STRENGTHS
JC: Running capacity - our time trials have been impressive and will aid us in transition. Our young guys are strong and can hold their ground over the ball - are very coachable and keen.
PROJECTED IMPROVEMENT
JC: Team defence. 18 man buy-in. Our ambition is to be a front half team conceding lower scores. We'll be working hard to instill the importance of that 'team' buy-in.
MOST UNDER AND OVERRRATED STAT IN TODAY'S BFNL FOOTY
JC: Marks inside 50 – Underrated, Clearances - Overrated (Post clearance possession more important)
PRE-SEASON TRAINING
JC: Started mid-November. Young guys have put their hands up on the track. Returned Jan 29. Healthy numbers (40 odd) pre-Christmas.
PLAYER INS
Mikitja Rottumah-Onus (Southern Mallee Tigers), Jesse Cairns (return o/s), Billy Jones (return o/s), Matt Rommeril (Skipton).
PLAYER OUTS
Jake Toulmin (Geelong District), Brad Whittaker (Coaching Dunnstown), Mitch Walsh (Skipton).
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS
N/A
THE DRAW
SCOOP: It’s an even draw for the Kangas ranked 5/11 easiest. They cop Darley, North Ballarat and Sebastopol from last year’s finals twice and a one-off meeting with Melton away. East were the surprise packet of last year’s finals series reaching the preliminary final after almost missing out on September action altogether. A finals berth again in an even comp would be a tick for Carmody in his first season in charge.
PRACTICE MATCH SCHEDULE
March 16 v Drysdale (H)
March 23 v Strathfieldsaye (H)
IMPROVERS TIP (OUTSIDE OF EAST POINT)
JC: Bacchus Marsh
FLAG TIP: (OUTSIDE OF EAST POINT)
JC: Darley
