By Tara Murray
Two former players headline a small group of recruits for Riddell District Football League reigning premiers Rupertswood.
The Sharks have kept most of their premiership-winning team together and have been quiet on the recruiting front, choosing to back-in the players already at the club.
Rupertswood coach Nick Ash said with all three senior sides making the grand final last season, they had plenty of players at the club who could step up.
“We want to keep getting games into kids,” he said. “We’re not going out and heavily recruiting.
“Those who are 21-22 [years of age] are the future of the club and we have to make sure they are getting full seasons, not one or two games.
“There were guys stiff last year to not get more games.”
Ash said they always kept an eye on former players and were thrilled to get Jorden Braddy and Bailee Revell back into the fold.
Braddy, who has spent the past three years in the Essendon District Football League, will take over the number one ruck role with Dean Putt to play in the country.
Ash said Braddy had made major inroads the past couple of years.
“His ruck work was top notch my first year here and being at a higher level it has improved even more,” he said.
“He has been learning the craft at Aberfeldie. He has come on leaps and bounds. He will be valuable and, at the age of 28, is in his prime.”
Ash said he hadn’t seen a lot of Revell, who left the club after under-16s.
Revell had been playing with Airport West in the EDFL. Ash said when they heard he was available, they were keen to have a chat.
“By all reports he’s a good kid and real acquisition to the side.
“We’ll probably look for him to play forward and then through the midfield. We can throw him down back if we need to.”
Another former Shark, Chris Lucas, Keilor duo Harrison Bult and Angus Taylor, and Stanhope’s Jesse Olsen round out the recruits.
Bult is a key forward, while Taylor will likely play in the middle of the ground.
Premiership players Jake Sutton, Todd Podolczak and Jackson Berry aren’t returning.
Ash said they weren’t expecting to see much of Billy Cannolo because of his VFL commitments.
In a bonus, Nick Grigg, who hinted at retirement after last year’s grand final, is playing on.
Ash said the group was focused on making sure the club is again among the contenders this season.
“There’s a fair bit of belief,” he said. “
We worked extremely hard to get into the position to win a premiership and the group now knows how hard it is to win one.
“The level of training is really good and the boys are doing extra work and pushing hard on the track. We’re in the premiership window, we have to work hard to achieve it.”
Rupertswood starts its season on Anzac Day against Macedon.
