Things have started off positively for new Riddell coach Arron Bray ahead of next year’s Riddell District Football League season.
With a number of new recruits and good numbers on the track, Bray said it had been a good start to his time at Riddell.
Bray had been set to coach Rupertswood next season, but a change of plans saw him move to the Bombers to replace premiership winning coach Justin Belleville.
“There’s good numbers which is always good,” Bray said. “We’re getting 55 to 60 every season. I wasn’t really sure [had it compared to previous years] but the guys are saying it’s better than previous years.”
Bray, who previously coached Broadford and the RDFL interleague side, said it was nice to be back in the competition, having coached at Rupertswood in the Essendon District Football League the last two seasons.
“The players they already have there, is a pretty strong list,” he said. “To have that ability to come into a club with a strong list and the bonus of adding a few who have been in the EDFL for the last couple of years makes it easier.”
Majority of the new signings are familiar faces to Bray.
Dean Galea, Brent Swallow, Luke Cannon, Jacob Chahine and Dylan Podolczak all played under Bray at Rupertswood. All but Galea had played in the RDFL before, with Swallow, Cannon and Podolczak part of the 2019 premiership.
The signings of Galea, Swallow and Chahine had all been announced before Bray got the job.
“They know my game style and the structures,” Bray said “It does make it easier.
“They know the non-negotiables for the playing group and they set a pretty good standard.”
The other new signing announced so far for the Bombers is Taylor Ford.
Ford has spent the majority of his footy career at the Bombers, before playing with Trentham the past three years.
After being knocked out in the first week of finals this year, Bray said they were keen to respond next year.
“The Riddell boys are putting themselves back in the frame for next year,” he said.
“It’s a similar situation when I went to Rupo and there were a few senior guys and some kids.
“We added a couple of experienced guys the next couple of years and it cultivated in a preliminary final this year.”
Tara Murray
