GVL preview | Energised Eagles eyeing bigger, better 2022

By James Kleeman

Mar 28, 2022

Soaring eagle: Jayden Howes juggles a grab. Photo by Aydin Payne

The 2021 assessment of Mansfield brought about the idea that a decimated Eagles list would require their youth to take the next step.

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Having had time to settle in at the helm coach Chad Owens has built a side in his image.

That includes nine signings since the last time Mansfield took to a footy field, with VFL star Jack Hutchins headlining a huge Eagles off-season recruitment drive.

“We’ve recruited really well, got nine new boys in we’re really excited about,” Owens said.

Having gone 5-6 last season, Owens and his squad will be intent on converting themselves from a steady mid-table side to a genuine finals contender.

The ex-Queensland premiership coach is confident his side’s pre-season efforts will show come round one, despite pandemic interruptions having an impact.

“It’s been different every week, a bit hard with numbers fluctuating and a different person going down with COVID, but we’re really happy with where we’re at,” he said.

“We’ve got a Melbourne group as well, they’ve been training really hard and it’s allowed us to work on a few different things.”

There’ll be a lot to like about Mansfield this season, Owens says, who anticipates spectators will be surprised at the size of a number of Eagles set to run out in April.

“Last year we were probably a bit small and skinny, but this year we’ve got some young blokes who I think will go to another level,” he said.

“We’ve added a weights coach this year which is making a big difference — boys like Tom Dunstan, Harry Mahoney and Luke Murray have all been in the gym over the off-season and added probably two or three kilos.”

Hutchins’ arrival is expected to take some of the pressure off the Eagles’ 2021 best-and-fairest Tas Clingan, who was a rock at the back last season, and may look to present further forward this year.

Patty Marks is also tipped for another big year in the Eagles’ engine room; the inside mid starting to have a major impact through the middle of the park after committing on a full-time basis last season.

An enhanced Mansfield outfit is sure to offer an interesting challenge to all it comes up against this year, in what could be a thrilling year for the men in gold and blue.

FAST FACTS

JOINED LEAGUE: 1998 NICKNAME: EAGLES GROUND: MANSFIELD RECREATION RESERVE COACH: CHAD OWENS PRESIDENT: RAY ROBINSON PREMIERSHIPS: 2004, 2009 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: T. HOTTON (2007) 2021 FINISH: EIGHTH (5–6) 2021 BEST-AND-FAIREST: TAS CLINGAN 2021 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: WILL FOSTER (22)

PLAYER CHANGES

IN: Jack Hutchins (Casey Demons), Lachy Christopher (Bacchus Marsh), Frazer Dale, Tom McDonagh (Myrtleford), Sam Lynch, Jono Aujard (Old Scotch A Premier Amateurs), Tom Anderson, Mitch and Harry Sier (Heidleberg), Josh Stefanutti (Knox).

OUT: Luke Van Der Feen, Lachlan Ritchie, Mitch Wareham, Tom Burley.

GAME CHANGER

JACK HUTCHINS: The acquisition of the hometown hero will no doubt lift all those associated with the Eagles. The former Casey Demons star will add height and muscle to the Eagles’ back half and, perhaps most importantly, the added experience of playing footy at the highest level.

FINISHING RANGE

5TH-8TH: Hutchins’ arrival and the off-season efforts of many young Eagles coming through the ranks may well have Mansfield challenging the competition’s top sides regularly this season. Having retained most of its list, it’s clear for all to see Mansfield is building something formidable.