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: Melton
COACH: Aaron Tymms (6th Season)
2022 Home & Away Record: 1st (14-2, 195.80%)
Scoop: Tymmsy, with the monkey of expectation off your back after winning last year - how have you gone about restoring the motivation of the group for a new season?
Aaron Tymms: The boys are very keen on the opportunity to go back-to-back. I expect we'll look a little different this year so those who weren't a part of it are hungry for a taste of it. So, there's plenty to be excited about.
S: You get key big man Benny Archard back which is a major boost but as many as four premiership players from last year are gone. How did you weigh up your off-season on the player movement front?
AT: It's a bit of a shame we lost a few, it's the biggest turnover of the list I’ve had since joining the club in 2018. It will be a good test for us.
S: Can we expect you to introduce some more youngsters this season? From the outside looking in there seems to be a fair queue wanting a crack, namely the twos given they lost just three games last year in a runner-up season.
AT: Definitely. I'm tipping we'll see a bit more of our emerging talent. Max Scoble, Nathan Dowdy, Conrad Farrugia and Zac Russell are a few of our boys on the up.
S: You’re now a premiership coach with the Bloods - what are you better at now than you were when you joined the club in 2018? What have you learned?
AT: I'm more relaxed, patient and better organised. I used to be all about ‘win, win, win’ and prone to make more changes than I needed to when chasing the result.
S: You're such an even team, who in your opinion brings the x-factor?
AT: We don't have outright matchwinners if that's what you're alluding to. We're an honest, even bunch. Full team buy-in.
S: What are some of the identified strengths of the club?
AT: Hard working. We're a defence first group across all lines - to be #1 in this area is a real focus.
S: Where do you expect to see your projected improvement come from?
AT: Defensive 50 stoppages - we're leaking too many goals. Also, our midfield connection, again around stoppage - needs work.
S: How has pre-season training looked?
AT: Really good. The boys completed the 90km running program asked of them over the break. We didn't do much before Christmas given we went so deep last year but have returned to three nights a week from Jan 30.
S: Who do you expect to be the biggest improvers this year? (Outside of your club)
AT: Darley into a second year under Dan Jordan and North Ballarat.
S: Who is your flag tip? (Outside of your club)
AT: Sebastopol will go very close.
KEY INS:
Ben Archard (Returning), Johnathan O'Brien (North Ballarat), Brody Sullivan (Melton South), Jack Watkins (North Melbourne VFL)
PLAYER OUTS:
J.Hickey (Diggers Rest), L.Hickey (Diggers Rest), M.Orr (Diggers Rest), B.Crofts (Caroline Springs)
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS:
B.Archard (Essendon), J.Watkins (North Melbourne), K.Borg (Port Melbourne), B.Payne (Port Melbourne).
