Sunbury Lions know what to expect from their experienced players and new recruits, but it’s the young players who will again determine the club’s fate in the new Ballarat Football League season.
After blooding several young players over the past two years, Lions coach Rick Horwood said he would look to them again as they attempt to climb the ladder.
“We’ve been very lucky to make the finals in the last two years,” Horwood said.
“We expect to play finals every year and nothing will change this year.
“How we go will depend on the players we’ve given experience to and whether they’ll step up again this season.
“Our list is very similar to 2012 [when they won the premiership] with the experience we have.
“We want to be competitive against the top four or five sides. There could be seven or eight sides pushing for finals.”
While much has been made of the Lions’ new recruits, Horwood is excited to see what the existing players will do this year.
“Jesse Flannery is going really well on the track and has been implementing that in practice matches,” he said.
“Tom Donoghue has benefited from 12 months with the side, while Nathan Wood and Jack Landt are enjoying having experienced players around them.”
Horwood said former VFL forward Jack Sheahan was back to the “old Jack” in another boost for the club, while Jack Sullivan had played in a practice match after surgery last year.
Of the new recruits, Horwood said Alik Magin had stood out at training. Magin joined the club in the off season, along with Grant Valles, Joey Redfern, Jesse McInneny, Chris Tsardakis, Roger Allen and Patrick MacDonough.
“Because Chris MacDonough [recruiting manager] did such a fantastic job it’s the first time we’ve had all our recruits signed before Christmas,” Horwood said.
“Since Christmas it has been a lot about getting to know each other and each other’s games.
“All the new players have good character and had an affiliation before coming to the club. They all knew someone or had played with players before.
“Alik by far has been the standout of the new recruits.”
Horwood said Patrick MacDonough was likely to miss the first couple of games after hurting his shoulder in January.
The Lions kick of their season on Saturday when they travel to Maddingly Park to take on Bacchus Marsh.
