By Marcus Uhe
Coach: Michael Firrito.
Captain: To be announced.
2023: 9th (3-13).
Ins: Ryan Hillard (Hampton Park), Corey Phillips (Hampton Park), Ben Schultze (Beaconsfield), Harry Spiteri (Emerald).
Outs: Dean Smith (Catani), Frank Dodinato, Jay Verhagen (overseas), Lachlan Ramage (Neerim South).
10 to watch: Josh Tilly, Aaron Firrito, Myles Wareham, Konner Allcott, Brayden Weller, Damien Volta, Callum Bourne, Ryan Hillard, Corey Phillips, Matthew Templeton.
Playing twice: Berwick Springs, Olinda Ferny Creek, Emerald, Mount Evelyn, Wandin, Officer, Upwey Tecoma.
Expected finish: 11th.
FIXTURE
Round 1: Saturday 13 April v Berwick Springs (A)
Round 2: Saturday 20 April v Olinda Ferny Creek (H)
Round 3: Saturday 27 April v Emerald (H)
Round 4: Saturday 4 May v Mt Evelyn (A)
Round 5: Saturday 11 May v Wandin (H)
Round 6: Saturday 18 May v Officer (A)
Round 7: Saturday 25 May v Narre Warren (H)
Round 8: Saturday 1 June v Woori Yallock (A)
Round 9: Saturday 15 June v Upwey Tecoma (H)
Round 10: Saturday 22 June v Monbulk (A)
Round 11: Saturday 29 June v Pakenham (H)
Round 12: Saturday 6 July v Berwick Springs (H)
Round 13: Saturday 13 July v Olinda Ferny Creek (A)
Round 14: Saturday 27 July v Mt Evelyn (H)
Round 15: Saturday 3 August v Emerald (A)
Round 16: Saturday 10 August v Officer (H)
Round 17: Saturday 17 August v Wandin (A)
Round 18: Saturday 24 August v Upwey Tecoma (A)
Michael Firrito’s first season in the hot seat as Gembrook Cockatoo’s senior coach will present its challenges for one of the club’s favourite sons.
Last season’s venture to the top flight of Outer East Football Netball did not go to plan for the Brookers, besotted by injury and limping to the finish with just three victories, all earned in its first five outings.
Too much was left to too few, with Aaron Firrito, Konner Allcott, Brayden Weller and Myles Wareham all shouldering a mountain of responsibility as the casualty ward grew, and the margins of defeat wore heavy.
Three times they were beaten by more than 100 points, most notably a 168-5 loss to Wandin on a sorry day at Clegg Road, and with a percentage of just 53.1, they were nearly outscored by double across the course of the season.
The club’s key position stocks took a hit over summer, with Wareham’s partner-in-crime up forward, Jay Verhagen, unavailable this season for personal reasons.
Added to the continued sad injury luck for beloved ruck Colin Bastow, and Frank Dodinato’s departure, there’s holes that need filling.
As a result, Firrito has implemented a style of play that will utilise the club’s strengths and mitigate the shortcomings.
“We don’t have a massive height advantage across the ground so we’ll certainly look to pressure teams and play a high pressure, high energy game style, and look to exploit teams that way,” Firrito said.
“We’ve certainly spent a fair bit of time trying to improve our fitness, so the boys are looking really good.
“I think it’s (the game plan) something that will progressively improve throughout the year.
“Not that it’s vastly different; with footy, you can’t reinvent the wheel and I’m not trying to do that, I just think we’ll progressively try to get better at it as the year goes on.
“I still think we’ll make mistakes, even by the mid-season, but I like to think we’ve got a good grasp of it and we’re building to the style of football we want to play.”
The club’s three main recruits, in Ben Schultze, Corey Phillips and Ryan Hillard will add experience and size in important areas, the latter two in the middle and Schultze in the key position stocks.
The inclusion of three sides from Division One as part of the league’s restructure will provide a more even playing field and not leave the Brookers as the vulnerable promoted newcomers with a mountain to climb and a point to prove that they belong in the Division.
While last season was from ideal, the extra games the club was able to offer for players such as Callum Bourne, Caleb Marshall, Caleb Crestani and Kane Rudy will no-doubt hold them in better stead for a second crack at the level in 2024.
The season begins with a trip to Mick Morland Reserve to tackle Berwick Springs.
“We’re really looking forward to getting started and the boys have had a fantastic preseason, but we’re fully aware that every country team in every league of football at the moment, everyone’s going well, because the season hasn’t started,” Firrito said.
“We’re excited for it to start, the boys are healthy and well and we’ll see what unfolds throughout the year.”
