With the new season just over a month away from official kick off, the pace is picking up around the club. There has been plenty of activity in the transfer area, both ins and outs. Departures include Craig Samson(Westerns ), Michael Ryan, Jaron Quinlivan, Thomas Polkinghorne( all Tyrendarra ), Jackson Thomas, Luke Mirtschin( both Bungaree ), Daniel Sturzaker( St. Albans ), Harry Saunders and Jason Walker( both Heywood ). Arrivals have been Tim Chester( Boddington-WA ), Daniel Falcone( Prahran Amateurs ), Jarrod Holt( Bacchus Marsh ), Luke Houston( Melton Centrals )and Rowan Hauschild( Tea Tree Gully-SA ). A couple of familiar faces in the latter list and it is great to see them back in the black and gold.
Training has been carefully structured under the Coaching staff, with Jason Saunders having been given the responsiblity of fitness co-ordinator. The training program included a camp over at Nelson on the weekend staring Friday 26th February. It proved highly successful with the players taking part in many rigorous drills and there was time for a little bit of the light-hearted activities that are integral to the success of such an occasion. Without putting too fine a point on proceedings, some of the memorable performances came from Trenton Johnston with his aerial artistry off the ramp on a bike and back-flipping into the river, Coach Winis with his unique way of changing rules to adapt to a particular situation, the length of his affinity with his beanbag in front of the fire was the stuff of endurance records and his scoffing of copious amounts of specially made biscuits( to his credit he did share a few ). Brother James had his digestive powers seriously tested in a multi-faceted relay, so much so that he revealed some amazing facts of his boyhood diet. President Rodger with his single-minded dedication in not allowing anyone or anything to get in between him and his tucker. Also, his spectacular head-butting of selector Shane Malcolm when taking a quick run in a fiercely contested cricket match-actually they were both on the same side. To witness the creature that emerged from Saundy's sleeping bag was a source of wonde( and mirth ).The late at night camp fire produced many examples of fine banter and wit, but this column is open to people of both gender, all ages and inclinations, thus the stories must be reserved for rather more private audiences. Well done to Reserve Coach Troy Bannam for his meticulous planning in getting the show to proceed.
A practice match has been arranged for Sunday March 14th over at Koroit as a build up to the season proper. This will be followed up by the Pre-Season Elastoplast at Heywood on Saturday March 27th and our first game is at Casterton on April 10th.
Further updates will appear as the Season draws closer.
Last Modified on 02/03/2010 14:09