Romsey is hoping its continued focus on youth and bringing through young players will reap it more rewards this Riddell District Football League season.
After back-to-back premierships, the Redbacks finished the last season in ninth place – two games outside the top six – with six wins.
While the results didn’t appear to be good news for the club, it was happy with the direction it was heading.
This season Corey O’Sullivan will take the coaching helm, the club’s third senior coach in as many seasons.
As a former junior coach for the Redbacks, O’Sullivan has coached many of the current senior playing group over the years.
The Redbacks have been one of the quieter sides in the recruiting period, keen to focus on continuing developing their young side.
The players they have added are a mixture of youth and experience.
Among the experienced players are James Carroll, 2013 Bowen Medalist Darren Goodwin and Alan Jeffries.
“We’re hoping to get natural improvement out of the younger players and add in the experienced players to hopefully go to a different level,” O’Sullivan said.
Jack O’Sullivan, who only played three games last season after being part of the 2015 premiership, and new recruit Jaidyn Caruana are two of the young stars the Redbacks expect to develop even further.
“They bring pace and footy nouse,” O’Sullivan said. “There’s plenty of young fellows that have come up playing juniors at Romsey.
“We’re moving in the right direction … Nathan Hoy and Connor Whelan played senior football last season, Jack Jedwab and Harrison Salm are others we expect to play senior football.
“They’ve got their best football ahead of them.”
O’Sullivan said the main thing for the club this season wasn’t ladder position and wins, but making sure that everyone works hard.
Romsey starts its season on April 8 against Sunbury Kangaroos.
