Oliver Lees
Altona East have brought in experienced coach Craig Filer to help steer them to success in FV state league 2 north-west.
Filer joins Phoenix after holding coaching roles at several different clubs.
After moving to Melbourne from the United Kingdom 11 years ago, Filer’s first gig was at Altona City coaching the under-15s boys before he was given an opportunity at Point Cook.
Filer oversaw the Jets’ successful 2018 campaign, which ended in premierships for the club’s senior men’s, reserves and women’s teams.
“We built a really good club there,” he said.
“We put the plan together to build the club, to invest in junior’s, the women’s and senior men’s programs.
“It was the culmination of a three year program to build the club.”
Filer also coached at the North Geelong Warrior and Caroline Springs George Cross before landing at Phoenix.
Phoenix had a promising season last year, ultimately finishing in fourth.
At season’s end Phoenix had the second tightest defence in the competition, but it was on the offensive side that they struggled to get moving.
Filer said this was an area in need of improvement.
“It’s been my focus since day one,” he said.
“We’ve been able to bring some players in.
“The plan was not to change the club too much in terms of new faces, I wanted to acknowledge the players from last year, but also freshen it up.”
Despite this intention, Filer said the list had changed substantially.
He said just five or six players from last year have remained.
Among the new signings are two imports from the UK, Lewis Bamford and Scott James Fenwick, whom Filer has known for years.
Before moving to Australia, Filer worked as a scout for professional clubs Newport County and Bristol Rovers.
It was through this work that he first scouted Bamford as a six-year-old.
Still in contact 19 years later, Filer urged Bamford to move to Melbourne.
“It’s a pretty unique story, we go back a long way,” he said.
“There’s a lot of trust and faith in each other, he knows my strengths and I know his.
“I’m over the moon to have someone with Lewis’ ability at the footy club.”
Bamford and Fenwick have already shown their worth, as they each scored in Phoenix’s 2-0 win over Hume United in round one.
“The first game is always a nervous one, and I’ve probably never been as nervous in football as that particular one,” he said.
“You’re in the laps of the gods when the players step over the white line.”
The club is also coming off of an exciting recent win in the Australia Cup.
Playing Boroondara away, Phoenix were behind 2-0 at half time, but were able to fight their way to 2-2 by the end of regulation.
In extra time Phoenix overrun the opposition to finish with an impressive 6-2 victory.
Phoenix have drawn Avondale in the next round of the cup.
On Saturday Phoenix defeated Hoppers Crossing 2-1, making them one of three undefeated teams at the top of the table.
