Football
17 April, 2024
Stawell 2024 Season Preview
A look at Stawell's 2024 season in both football and netball and a message from President Shane Field.
Stawell defeated Ararat on Good Friday and when you look at their team in 2024, you can see why.
Coached by Tom Eckel for another season, Stawell has brought in some good recruits who filled holes in their team and it showed on Good Friday.
Mitch Taylor has come to the club from Darwin as a key defender, a position the club identified they needed to fill.
Cody Driscoll came back to the club and as a two-time leading goal kicker in the WFNL, he has made a good start to be a third by kicking four goals against Ararat.
Ash Driscoll is coming to the club from Navarre and has been a four-time premiership player and a leading goalkicker. He also brings leadership as he has been a senior coach.
Josh Fowkes has come over as a ruckman from Maryborough and is a two-time league medalist. He showed on Good Friday how important he is in the ruck.
Jacob Welsh is also the other big-name recruit, having played the bulk of his career for St Marys in the Geelong Football League, captaining the side to a premiership in 2019.
James Sullivan, who kicked two goals on Good Friday has played for Tarura in the Goulburn Valley League and also played some games for Box Hill Hawks in the VFL.
Tom Eckel said they want to go as far as they can this year and he believes they have the team to do that.
"We want to go as deep as we can and we have a good enough team to make finals," Eckel said.
"If we make finals then we can look further, but finals is realistic, though it is going to be tough to get there.
"I feel like the league gets harder and harder each year and it's a strong competition - the strongest it's ever been."
"We want to be consistent for the first four to six weeks of the season and build on the back end."
Eckel said they have worked on a lot of things, but the key things they worked on were evident in their Good Friday match.
"We want to be strong around the contest and bring a fast brand of football," Eckel said.
"We have a bit of youth and we are very fit at the moment so hopefully we can play a fast exciting brand and take the next step."
STRENGTHENED NETBALLERS AIM FOR FINALS
On Good Friday the netballers showed what they will be like this year under co-coaches Jemma Clarkson and Rachel Wood.
The 26-point win is just the tip of the iceberg in a Stawell team that is buoyed by some new and familiar faces.
Madi Taylor is back at the club after a year off from school having played all her juniors there. Rachel Wood is coming back from Navarre and agreed to coach when asked.
Sisters Rita and Sophie Dyer have come to the club as well as Jade Allen and Amber Taylor.
Jemma Clarkson said the club is looking strong for 2024 across all grades.
"We are striving for four strong senior teams and making finals this year," Clarkson said.
"Our A Grade finished third last year and we want to build on that and maintain that level all year.
"You always aim to be in the big dance and we have a realistic goal of making finals and then seeing what we can do from there."
Clarkson said it is great to coach a group she describes as "A great bunch of girls."
"It's nice to coach alongside Rachel this year," Clarkson said.
"Everyone has put in a lot of time over the pre-season and the girls are great to coach and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve this season."
FROM THE PRESIDENT
In his third year as president, Shane Field has a huge year ahead with the club celebrating 150 years on April 27.
"The celebrations will be held at our first home game against Minyip-Murtoa and it will be the first game at Central Park since last June," Field said.
"It will be a big day for the football club with a lot of ex-players coming that haven't been at the club for a long time, so it will be like a reunion for every decade."
The club has also opened its new clubrooms.
"The new clubrooms are now open which provide accessibility for everyone, so it is exciting to use them on game day for the first time in Round two," Field said.
On the field, the Warriors are looking good and Field said they have filled holes in the off-season and the squads are looking stronger.
"We went out to target players to fill holes and have done that. We have recruited well in both football and netball and it's exciting to see what they produce this year."