By Tyler Lewis
Make no mistake; there will be no premiership hangover for Narre Warren in 2020.
The Magpies climbed over arch nemesis Berwick in the big dance of last year’s Premier division, and the black and white army will be holding nothing back when it retakes the field in season 2020.
Shane Dwyer was handed the reins of the Magpie group in the off-season but doesn’t believe there is any added pressure attached to the ‘reigning premier’ tag. He also confirmed his side has retained all but one of its premiership 22 from last year.
“We aren’t putting any pressure on ourselves to think we have to go and win it again,” he said.
“(Of course) we would like to win it, like everyone.
“We have just been focused on keeping as much as possible – which we have done, add a couple, and tweak a few things.
“Berwick, Cranbourne and Beaconsfield, all those boys are going to be strong again, (so) I don’t think we will be adding any pressure to ourselves.
“It has been massive to keep pretty much keep all but one of our grand final side.
“Michael Collins retired but we’ve pretty much kept the rest of that group.
“There are a lot of young blokes who got better with their footy last year, and they should improve again this year.
“We have lost other players who didn’t play in that grand final, though only a couple. That was the main focus – to retain them – which we look like we have done, and that’s huge.”
A major addition to the Narre Warren outfit is the destructive, yet classy, Nick Battle. After a string of accolade-filled years for the Doveton Eagles, Battle decided to pull on the prison bars to strengthen Narre’s already imposing midfield brigade.
“It is handy, very handy,” Dwyer admitted of Battle’s inclusion.
“He has a lot of mates down there; one of his best mates is Trent Cody, so that has made him fit really easily into the group.
“It has been good, watching him go about his training and in the intra-club game.
“He has a massive tank and he will be a pretty good addition to our group, no problems.”
While the Narre Warren forward half will be without the legendary Collins, Dwyer doesn’t think a lot will change from ‘the Narre way’ that has been its calling card in the past.
“The Narre way, for a long time now, has been quick footy,” he said.
“Get it in quickly – if the boys don’t mark it, the little blokes go about their work. Not a lot will change there, it has been a successful formula.
“That (premiership) was huge for those boys last year. To be honest, we were pretty big underdogs.
“To come away with a win against the odds for the group, if anything, it builds their confidence levels more.
“In saying that, Berwick is going to be the same, if not better, this year so we are under no illusion that (Berwick) isn’t going to be the biggest challenge in the comp.
“We will have to prove to get to their level again, and it will be their last year in the competition (so) I am pretty sure they will want to go out with a bang.
“In saying that, we beat them last year. We only beat them once, but you only need to beat them once.”
