Rupertswood is keen to build on last season with stability in the off season providing a good platform for the Essendon District Football League division 2 team.
The Sharks lost a number of players before last season and had a number unavailable for parts of the season, which resulted in the team being relegated.
For coach Brad Fox it has been a completely different off season.
“We’ve been able to keep the core group together,” he said. “The fortunate thing about last season was a number of our seasons travelling in the back half of the year, we had a number of players get their first taste of senior footy.
“Made them really hungry. We have not only got more depth this year, we’ve also got a bigger core group of players that are doing the work to be ready for senior football from a fitness standpoint as well.”
Fox said they’d incredible support from Loris Bertolacci, who has done 19 seasons working with AFL clubs, and is running the club’s strength and conditioning program.
He said the playing group has lifted their work rate and what they’re doing away from official training sessions.
The Sharks have managed to add a number of players to their squad to further increase that depth.
Ethan Davis, Joel Flanigan, Lachie Nesbitt, Lachlan Fish, Angus Price and Bailey Verrall have also returned to Rupertswood having been playing elsewhere in recent years.
Beau Stain, who comes from Alexandra Hills, Adam Bartrop, who has crossed from Tullamarine, and Owen Sloan, who comes from Epping, are other signings.
Fox said the committee that has come on board at the end of last year, has been really strong and open that they want to reunite with more families and people.
“Might have enjoyed their junior time at the club and for whatever reason, went in a different direction, the door is open,” he said.
“Everyone is welcome.”
The Sharks will face a different challenge this year, playing in division 2 for the first time.
Fox said a lot of people have preconceived ideas about what the difference is between divisions.
“I think a lot of those preconceptions are misconceptions,” he said. “The footy gap between the top half of one division is at least middle of the table of the next division up.
“You’ve got to prepare like you want to play finals in the division above and see how far it can take you in the division you are in.
“We’re open minded about what our opponents will be like. Every week is a fresh challenge.”
Fox said as a club standpoint things were tracking along really nicely.
He said the club was ambitious with where it was at and what it wants to achieve in the future.
One of the big focuses is on getting under-16s and under-18s back up and running, with Fox saying they’re getting pretty close to making that a reality.
Fox said they want to go back to providing the link between juniors and seniors.
The club is also looking to reform junior netball.
