By Jonty Ralphsmith
Under the tutelage of new coach Hayden Stanton, Hampton Park will be seeking to secure wins over some top sides in the Southern Division Two competition in 2023.
The Redbacks were heavily reliant on a senior core of established talent last year and managed just one draw in their 10 games against clubs above them on the ladder as they finished sixth.
In 2023, the Redbacks want to bring in some fresh, younger faces which will add depth, while senior players such as Liam Myatt, Trent Thomas, Ryan Hillard and Nathan Carver remain sturdy in their output.
Stanton also wants to change the perception of Hampton Park.
“From my perspective, the history of Hampton Park over 30 years, no matter what competition they play in, they have always been known as a bit of a rough-nut club,” Stanton said.
“I’ve broken the shackles away from that. I want us to be a club that’s progressive and inclusive and tries really hard to generate more people to get involved in our club.
“The balance is important and we want to go and play away (games) and (be) respected, so our guys stick around and have a social drink to build the camaraderie in the competition.
“With no junior club, it’s very difficult, so we want people, when they play Hampton Park, to know it’s going to be a really hard game until the end, but we want to play an exciting brand of footy that encourages people to come watch us, so that will take time to build.
“I’m coming off a base where this club was fourth-bottom for points kicked – they weren’t able to score heavily so they were in games for periods but weren’t able to execute and then got scored against the other way.
In recruiting Andy Parker from Doveton, Hampton Park have picked up a ruck which was a gap that needed filling.
He’ll feed to the likes of Makaio Haywood who has had a preseason that suggests he’s ready to tap into his massive potential.
“He’s been good all preseason and we think he’s someone who will jump up this season and becomes a bona fide star of the competition,” Stanton said.
“He’s strong, he’s tough, he wins his own ball, his kicking’s beautiful, he just hasn’t, up to this year, committed himself fully and he’s reaping the benefits of it now.
“He’ll play midfield a lot, I don’t think he’s really missed training and played all the trial games so we’re expecting great things from on a consistency point of view.
“He’s always had great talent but didn’t make it at the highest level so I have focused on pumping him up and getting him going again and we’ve seen him come of age. I said to him that I think he can play at a lot better standard than what we play at and my job is to get you back playing the game and enjoying it and then your talent will come through.
FACILITY
With works being completed at Booth Reserve, Hampton Park will this season play their home games at a new facility at Cranbourne West – Tony Way Recreation Reserve.
The Redbacks have been dealt difficult cards in preseason as they’re still training at Booth Reserve where there is no social setting and two of the light towers are not operational.
The ground is not expected to be ready for use until the second week of the season, with the Redbacks first three games of the season confirmed as away fixtures.
That will give the squad a couple of weeks to acclimatise to the conditions of the ground to give them some home ground advantage when they play there.
The difference in dimensions between the two venues adds another layer of hardship.
Tony Way is a massive, open facility – arguably the biggest ground in the competition.
That changes the way Hampton Park will approach their game.
Instead of playing risk-averse, controlled footy, Stanton wants them to use their speed to run teams into the ground – a changeup from the usual Hampton Park way.
“It’s a work in progress,” Stanton said.
“I have taken over a group that was kick-mark and very safe and I’ve been trying to get them to play a more expansive game which relies on more ball control and getting the right guys kicking the footy more.
“It has taken time but when we have done it at times in our trial games, it has looked really good and when we’ve gone away from it and gone more kick-mark, we’ve been outmarked.
“It’s been important to show the guys our method and how we need to stick to the task. We’ve focused on that at training and put drills in place to encourage players to be aggressive with how they move the ball.”
Cora Lynn recruit, winger, Tristan Fernandez was described by Stanton as possibly the quickest player in the competition and Josh Stow’s aerobic capacity will come to the fore at Tony Way.
RECONNECTING
In his first media interview after arriving as coach, Stanton stressed that an off-field priority for him would be to reconnect with past players.
The absence of their true home ground makes that more tricky.
But Stanton has started to put methods in place to keep them around the place, recognising the mutual benefit it provides past and present players.
“We are putting together a mentoring program from old past players to new players,” said Stanton.
“Especially guys that are wearing jumper numbers of previous club greats so they understand the history and what it means to pull on the jumper.
“That sort of stuff is a good way to interact, it gives those guys someone to follow over and above just the club.”
YOUNG TALENT TIME
With no affiliated junior club, it’s rare for Hampton Park to have listed talent in the Dandenong Stingrays squad.
This year, though, they have Jack Wilson who is expected to play regular football at the Stingrays.
Wilson plays as a half-forward and has played in each of Dandenong’s first three games after getting some opportunities last season.
The son of former coach Nathan Wilson, Jack made his Hampton Park senior debut aged 16 and when the Stingrays are not playing, the Redbacks will have access to him.
The club is also excited to give Oscar Dylan the opportunity to train with the Southern Football Netball League Development Squad coached by Brad Crouch.
Makaio Haywood is eligible for that squad but was unable to commit due to work commitments, opening up the opportunity for Dylan, who had limited opportunity at senior level last year.
“He’s a young player with a lot of upside,” Stanton said.
“He’s a skinny kid who is courageous in the air and flies for his marks so we just need to make sure we upskill him and get him playing a role in our system that utilises his ability and strengths. He’s a kid who eats and breathes and loves footy.”
Hampton Park fixture
Round 1: Saturday 15 April v Black Rock (Away)
Round 2: Saturday 22 April v East Malvern (Away)
Round 3: Saturday 29 April v East Brighton (Away)
Round 4: Saturday 6 May v Doveton Doves (Home)
Round 5: Saturday 13 May v Murrumbeena (Away)
Round 6: Saturday 20 May v Highett (Away)
Round 7: Saturday 27 May v Skye (Home)
Round 8: Saturday 3 June v Caulfield (Away)
Round 9: Saturday 17 June v Keysborough (Home)
Round 10: Saturday 24 June v Black Rock (Home)
Round 11: Saturday 1 July v East Malvern (Home)
Round 12: Saturday 8 July v East Brighton (Home)
Round 13: Saturday 15 July v Doveton Doves (Away)
Round 14: Saturday 22 July v Murrumbeena (Home)
Round 15: Saturday 29 July v Highett (Away)
Round 16: Saturday 5 August v Skye (Away)
Round 17: Saturday 12 August v Caulfield (Home)
Round 18: Saturday 19 August v Keysborough (Away)
