Tara Murray
The Sunbury Kangaroos aren’t content with what they did last season in the Essendon District Football League division 2 competition.
The Kangaroos started the season 0-5 under new coach Shanon Carroll before turning the season around and making the grand final.
With that experience behind them, Carroll said everyone was keen to make sure that they continued to build momentum.
“We’re very happy with the depth we’ve now got,” he said. “Take the grand final away from our finish to the year, we were able to achieve some success and get the club back to where it once was.
“We were able to get that off field success and now we want to look to have some more on field success.
“We want the coaches that come after me and the players who come after this group to be able to keep the same standards going forward.”
The Kangaroos were one of the big movers early in the pre-season with a number of key signings.
Ben Cannon, Thomas Eiszele, Brandon Smith, Mitch Collins, Lachlan Muir, Kayne Muir, Jake Olivieri, Andrew Siekai, Riley Eales, Rocco Tripodi, Beau Vowles, Cooper Anson and Mitch Johnston have all joined the club.
Carroll said Tripodi had been a standout in the pre-season, while Mitch Collins was another one who had made an impact.
He said he was looking forward to seeing Brandon Smith in ruck with him being an instant hit with the playing group.
Carroll said the improvement from the younger guys was something that he was also looking forward to.
“For these guys it’s their first proper senior pre-season,” he said. “It’s been a decent pre-season and they are feeling it in the legs.
“Riley Eales has been handling the fitness side of things and the boys are doing eight to 10 kilometres every training session.
“They aren’t shirking it and they want more. The attitude to there.”
On the other end, the Kangaroos have lost a bit of experience with Matthew Leonard and Brenton Sutherland retiring and Rhys Magin moving to Queensland.
The other key out is young forward Brody Watts, who is playing for Avondale Heights this season after originally signing with the Kangaroos.
Carroll said while they wished Watts luck and didn’t want to hold anyone back from playing at a higher level, they had been disappointed with how it played out.
The Kangaroos have two practice matches before round one against Taylors Lakes. The two sides faced off in the preliminary final last year which the Kangaroos won.
“Taylors Lakes are the clear favourites [for the season],” Carroll said. “It will be a good challenge. We have changed a couple of things in terms of structure and set up and it may take a few weeks.
“We’re not so worried about the scoreboard we want to get those things right, but we can’t be 0-5 again, we need to get those things right.
“A lot of clubs have picked up some quality players and I think the competition will be closer again.
“You have to come ready to play every week.”
