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: Lake Wendouree
COACH: Jack Fitzpatrick (2nd Season)
2022 Home & Away Record: 11th (1-15, 57.63%)
Scoop: Well Jack, clean slate, year two, here we go! While it wasn't the best season for the club in 2022 what were your impressions of the wider competition (on-field) in your first year?
Jack Fitzpatrick: Standard was good. I think we're starting to regain momentum out of the covid period. The Ballarat Football Netball League would be more than competitive against most other country leagues if not all.
S: It's encouraging to see the club has attracted a handful of new talent over the off-season - tell us about them....
JF: Well they all come from different areas with different ideas which is exciting. We've added a blend of youth and experience we're confident will add to our ball use depth.
S: Nearly all of your progressive young talent has remained at the club - how do you, given your experience, ensure they continue to get better?
JF: It doesn't happen automatically; it really is up to them. I can only guide them. They will get their rewards as a player more often, from what they put in.
S: There's a wrap around on new 200cm ruckman Tom Zampatti (St Josephs, GFL) - do you plan on spending considerable time with him on the teaching front given your skillset or will you just let him do his thing?
JF: While he's moving well, I won't be overburdening him - he's come off a couple of serious knee injuries. We just want to see him enjoying his footy and see what he can do first - let him find his feet. We'll go from there.
S: One-win seasons are tough. What did you learn in your first year at the Lakers - about coaching for one and secondly the club?
JF: As a coach - finding ways to stay in games for longer - we really took it up to Sebastopol (2nd) and Ballarat (3rd) but could not sustain it for the entire four quarters.
On the club front - you wouldn't have known at training we were a one-win team - the feeling around the group was always positive. We're not defined by wins and losses, rather identifying something out of each game to improve on the following week.
S: What are some of the identified strengths of the club?
JF: We’re solid around the ball and on the inside
S: Where do you expect to see your projected improvement come from?
JF: Minimising errors that impact scores against. Better ball use. Being in games for longer.
S: How has pre-season training looked?
JF: Cold, wet nights in the middle of Summer was a strange experience! That aside, it was pleasing to see the boys had done the work over the break. That can only improve our progress.
S: Who do you expect to be the biggest improvers this year? (Outside of your club)
JF: Sunbury.
S: Who is your flag tip? (Outside of your club)
JF: Melton - defending champs, impressive outfit.
KEY INS:
Michael Foster (Donald), Tom Zampatti (St Josephs), Flynn Loader (GWV Rebels), Liam Holmes (South Barwon), Matthew Mcculloch (Taylors Lakes), Aiden Laffy (Horsham Demons), Tyler Davis (North Ballarat)
PLAYER OUTS:
F.Greene (Hawthorn), R.Emerson-Jones (Bungaree), C.Brennan (Overseas), M.Phillips (Moved to Melbourne)
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS:
Nil
