PLANS are already underway for a successful defence of Iona College’s first XI ­soccer title, despite it being just weeks since they won it.

The school’s first XI, second XI and Year 10 As sides all won Associated Independent College titles.

It was the second title in three years for the first XI, who also went undefeated for the first time in the school’s history.

“It’s a great achievement for the boys involved,” first XI coach Geoff Maltby said. “Football at the school is a culture that is evolving and growing.

“I think it’s a combination of good players and a change in attitude of the school’s football culture.”

Maltby said the aim now was to go back-to-back for the first time in the school’s history.

“It hasn’t been done in a long time and never by us,” he said. “So back-to-back is the focus.

“We’ll lose a few of our Year 12s for next season, but there will be seven or eight boys who will back up.

“We’ve taken a holistic ­approach and tried to get as many people involved as we could, which means we’ve had Year 9s and 10s in the side. So hopefully that helps us for the future.”

Maltby said getting old boys such as his son Zach to be an assistant coach and Cody Kilpatrick as team manager had provided a boost to the team as players knew they could be involved beyond completing their studies at the school.