Tara Murray
New Woodend-Hesket recruit Josh Pound can have a significant impact on the Riddell District Football League according to Hawks coach Ben Tankard.
The Hawks last week announced that the midfielder-forward had joined the club adding some more experience to the group.
Pound is no stranger to the RDFL having made the team of the year while playing Broadford. After the Kangaroos he spent time with Essendon District Football League premier side Aberfeldie, before signing with PEGS for the 2020 season.
Tankard said they were pretty excited to get Pound on board.
“We’ve worked on it for about a month and had been relatively confident that we could get him,” he said.
“After 2019 he decided to go to PEGS to play under his brother and tick that off his list before he finished.
“His brother stepped away from the senior job, so he decided to look elsewhere.
“He’s a good player and I’ve known him for quite a while and he’s got a few friends at the club.”
Tankard said they would likely use Pound more in the forward line than in the midfield.
In recent years, small and mid-size forwards have dominated the competition and provided plenty of goals, with Pound fitting that same mould.
“He’s not overly tall, but he did play full forward at times at Aberfeldie,” he said.
“He’ll play down there with Alastair Rae and Tom Gawthorp.
“He’ll have an impact in the middle when we need it. We’re pretty happy with our midfield strength and he’ll complement what we have.”
The signing of Pound comes as the existing playing group has started signing on for next season.
All the new recruits for the 2019 season, which didn’t go ahead due to COVID-19, are back on board for next season.
They include Wayne Patak (Spotswood), Aaron French (East Malvern), James Vistarini, Rory Alexander, Nick Franzi (Taylors Lakes), Blake Laverie, Jordan Filakis, Ravin Willara (Avondale Heights), Brandon Wilson (Riddell), Sean Crawford (Rupertswood) and Charlie Mathieson (St Joseph’s).
Tankard said they had the salary cap and points room to sign one more player.
“Everyone has been understanding the new environment [lower salary caps],” he said.
“We haven’t lost anyone we signed. There will be at least eight new players in our ones.
“We have room for one more and we’re pretty far down the track with someone. If that doesn’t work out, we won’t be chasing anyone else.”
Tankard said they were hopeful that COVID-19 restrictions would further ease this weekend which would allow them to start training.
“We’re looking forward to being able to socially catch up and start training.”
