ASPLEY exploded onto the VFL scene with a 10-goal first quarter against Port Melbourne in Round 1 – going on to record a 53-point victory that sent shockwaves through the competition.
That was unfortunately as good as it got for the Hornets as they didn’t win another game and claimed the wooden spoon despite regularly being in the mix as injuries and lockdowns took a heavier toll on them than most, and it all ended with a sad decision to leave the VFL after just one season – a season coach Daniel Webster succinctly described as “interesting”.
"It was a pretty interesting year – we obviously started really well in Round 1 and we thought ‘how good’s this?'" he said.
"Then through the middle we had a lot of injuries and in game as well – there were quite a few games where we didn’t finish with four players on the bench.
"(The season) was frustrating and hard to manage trying to get players up for games – obviously COVID impacted footy everywhere – we’re not the only ones in that boat, but it definitely made it hard.
"At the start of the year if we could keep our core together and keep our better players on the field we would be really competitive and we showed that early and in the middle we had so many games we should have won and we found a way not to.
"It was disappointing that sense that you end up second last or last with the match ratio change because I think we’re a better team than that and could have easily been sitting a bit higher.
"That happens in footy, you need a bit of luck here and there and we didn’t get much luck at all and the stop-start nature made it harder to find rhythm and get the positive energy going, but the way the players and the club handled it was first rate."
Webster listed a 14-point loss to Southport; the trip to Frankston, when Michael Hutchinson was hurt early and the Hornets lost a 22-point lead; Sandringham, when they hit the front deep into the last quarter but conceded two late goals; the heartbreaking loss to the Brisbane Lions when Hammelmann marked and goalled a split second after the final siren; a second-half collapse against Gold Coast and the drama-packed trip to Box Hill where they kicked the first four goals as games that possibly got away.
"On top of that we got whacked with the two-week lockdown for the COVID-infected hostess on the plane … and we finished off with the Essendon game where everybody was at the ground ready to go and it was called off.
"(The lockdown) was tough – you can’t be on top of your game if you sit at home for two weeks – there’s only so much you can do at home and with footy you’ve got to be able to run and jump and kick and get around the ground."
Webster wasn’t wrong with the injuries to key players – apart from key forward James Nelis only playing one game after recovering from an ACL, stars Reece Toye (hand, knee – missed eight matches), Ben Warren (hamstring – eight), Hutchinson (hand – seven) and ruckmen William Wolbers (shoulder – six) and Jamie Ivers (shoulder – four) led a long list of long-term absentees – Aspley in fact used a whopping 37 players in just 10 games.
There were plenty of highlights, however.
Apart from that first quarter blitzkrieg against the Borough, when they had five goals on the board inside 11 minutes, the arrival of Redland spearhead Matt Hammelmann was huge.
The man who won the last two NEAFL leading goalkicker awards made a seamless transition to the brown and gold hoops with an efficient 42.19 from just 10 games, including four bags of six and one of five.
It earned him the Frosty Miller Medal – the first player in VFA/VFL history to win the goalkicking honour in a wooden spoon team.
Webster said he understood but was disappointed in the Hornets’ decision to leave the VFL.
“It’s understandable from the club level (but) we provided an opportunity for Queensland players and coaches to perform at the highest level and the only option now is Southport,” he said.
“That’s the disappointing part because if you live in Brisbane and want to play at a really high level (and can’t play for the Lions or Suns) you have to go and play elsewhere.
“We’ve got a lot of great young talent in the team and that’s a disappointing thing as well – it would have been great to have another crack at it, especially getting through year one and moving into year two a lot of these guys would have been better off and had a lot better understanding of the level and commitment."
1-9 win-loss, 22nd
What went right: That win over Port Melbourne was the undoubted highlight, while Hammelmann winning the Frosty Miller Medal also stands out. Queensland footy champion Matthew Payne had an outstanding season as the league’s oldest player at 35.
What went wrong: At the head of the list was the two weeks’ quarantine after the Box Hill game. Injuries also took away most of their pace, height and experience, and they regularly finished games with less than their full 22.
Best and fairest prediction: Hammelmann is the favourite after a sensational season up front, while Payne, Ryan Bastinac and Corey Lyons held the midfield together.
Best young players: Jordan Hayden, Ryan Banks-Smith, Jack Rolls, Will Gowers. “Banks-Smith really came on late in the year – his work ethic to get himself to that level was really good,” McKenzie said. “He deserves everything he gets – he was the standout for me from the young guys.”
Coach status: Webster is keen to further his coaching career so will explore his options before recommitting to a QAFL campaign with the Hornets – “I want to coach at the highest level I can,” he said. “I’d love to get into the AFL and work full-time in footy, so it will be a check to see what’s available first and then look at the options.”
Twitter: @BRhodesVFL
Keep track of your VFL team via our all new VFL Match Centre, which features live scores, team and player stats, match timeline, events summary and even Fantasy points. Check it out here (https://www.afl.com.au/vfl/fixture)
Let’s Band Together with TAC. We all have someone to drive safely for. https://tac.vic.gov.au/bandtogether
