Ainslie Football Club - Press Release, Monday 16th January, 2012
The Ainslie Football Club today introduced its new recruits for the upcoming 2012 NEAFL Season. Ainslie General Manager John Smith said that the vast majority of recruits will be in attendance at the resumption of pre-season training this week.
Smith said that; "Ainslie has lost three prominent players from their back-to-back Premiership side from 2011. Dual premiership captain John Holmes has returned to Victoria after 67 games and four seasons with the Club and will play with Norwood in the Eastern Football League. Reigning Best & Fairest Robert Shirley has returned to South Australia taking up coaching and playing duties at Woodville-West Torrens, Robert played 40 games for the Club and collected an Alex Jesaulenko medal in the 2010 winning Grand Final side. Ben Hughes has returned to his home town, Warragul, after four years and 71 games at Ainslie."
"We are very stable and in a good space at the moment, the three senior grade players will be missed, there was a lot of experience there, but we're confident in our playing group and see some great leadership qualities coming through from within."
The only other departure from Ainslie was fringe first-grader Jackson Kew who returned home due to home-sickness.
Smith went on to say; "With such a minimal loss of players for the third year in a row, Ainslie was in a good position to be able to target certain players to fill some roles left vacant and tend to a few minor areas that needed attention."
Ainslie had been very pro-active in its search as it was aware of the movement of the mentioned players early last year; "We made contact with a number of the recruits and tracked them through 2011, many of the recruits were pretty much committed at the completion of their 2011 playing commitments."
"We are more than happy with our 2012 list, the new recruits along with the emergence and maturing of four or five younger players through our Senior Transition Squad that now join the premiership players will see a high level of competiveness for senior grade playing spots. We are also treating the return from long term injury of both Matt Hearn and Tyson Carracher as almost being new recruits"
"Ainslie has had great numbers on the track pre-Christmas and seeing the number of players in the gym and on the oval during the break is more than encouraging, the boys are keen and excited about the upcoming season, they're happy with the draw, they're on the road a fair amount of times and also looking forward to the Foxtel Cup again."
Coach Chris Rourke is very satisfied with the players on hand, and sees the new recruits as all very capable of stepping right into the training and playing culture at the Club; "We've lost three good men, but the eight or so recruits, the young players coming through and a few injury returns will see us hit the ground running in 2012," Rourke said.
"I think there are few boys coming to Ainslie that will soon be regularly talked about in footy circles; they are all good people and are very clear on what is expected of them at our Club. We have a pretty capable list, there'll be some pressure on all the boys to get and keep spots in first grade, they will all get their chance to prove their selection both on the track and in our pre-season hit outs."
The 2012 new recruits are;
Simon Horner – Originally from the Waroona JFC and coming from senior football with the Perth Demons Football Club, decorated in the Armed Forces 2011 Carnival. Big and strong at 195cm, Simon is predominantly a full forward who doesn’t mind time on the ball, he is a physical fitness instructor for the Navy.
Beau Black – A Nowra product through Wollongong Lions, known for his hardness at the ball, his ability to win contested kicks and them being long and driving. Beau shows excellent strength in the contest, selected for all 5 matches in the u18s National Championships (RAMS) and was named in best. Outstanding results in the AFL State Combine beating the record in standing vertical jump in this year’s National draft combine.
Matt Thomas – Matt is from the Pennant Hills Football Club in the Sydney Premier league, played 18’s and two seasons of first grade football there. Highlights include winning the Under 18’s Lenny Hayes Trophy, the Ken McCrae Shield for Best First Year Player for the seniors. Representative at under 16’s & 18’s. Very versatile as a player has enabled him to play midfield, back and enjoys time in the forward line.
Jack Mahony – Hawthorn rookie listed player from Kiama, through the RAMS program, mid-fielder who can go forward. Super keen to prove his worth in the NEAFL. Ready made player who sure with both sides of his body, loves the training track and the work that comes with it.
Jono Gourlay – Originally from Green Point on the Central Coast, a young athletic half forward coming via the RAMS and Pennant Hills. Also has good defensive skills and discipline to match that might see him take a half back role. Jono has a fair turn of speed for his size.
Jed Costigan – From Maffra and Gippsland Grammar via Gippsland Power and the Casey Scorpions, midfield/on-baller, very strong and super fit, hard at the footy, likes a challenge and the contest, has settled in well to Canberra and working hard over the off-season. Been on Ainslie’s radar for a while and very happy to have him at the Club.
Josh Bennet – Out of the Southern Football League to Frankston Dolphins, tall and with good mobility, on-baller/half forward, son of former St Kilda player John Bennett, agile enough to cover a number of spots
Ken McGregor – 152 games with the Adelaide Crows debuting as an 18 year old. Strong and tall centre half back or centre half forward, very good overhead mark and also marking defence. Highly rated by opponents, including Jonathon Brown, as the toughest defender he’d played on. Ken will also take up an Assistant Coach’s role with the Club.
Ainslie is looking forward to all the recruits having a crack on the training track and making their way into the NEAFL side. Ainslie Football Club welcomes all the players and wishes them all the best in Season 2012.
Authorised by the General Manager
John Smith
Contact: 0427 787753
Last Modified on 16/01/2012 17:36