Tara Murray
Rupertswood will continue to stick with the process as it aims to take the next step in the Essendon District Football League division 1 competition.
Just one and half quarters away from playing finals in their second season in the competition, the Sharks have been one of the quieter teams in the pre-season.
The Sharks locked in Dean Galea as a playing co-coach early in the piece, but haven’t added many others since.
Sharks coach Arron Bray said they had plenty of young talent at the club, they wanted to give those players the opportunity.
“We’ve only recruited Dean,” he said. “Matty McDonald and Lachlan Shore have come from Gisborne and Clayton Bonello from Keilor, but they have played a lot of twos football so far.
“We want to play the kids that are coming through and develop the kids from an early age.
“We’ve had a couple of 18s who showed some good signs and we’re going to stick with them.”
Bray said there were four youngsters that were likely to get plenty of opportunities early.
The two Johnson twins, Logan and Mitchell), who played plenty of games last season, will again be keys, while Aaron West and Fraser Phelan-Smith are the other two exciting Bray.
Bray said they’d have a solid pre-season with four practice matches. They claimed two wins, while had four goal losses to Keilor and Gisborne.
“We’ve still got a lot of work to be done, but forward of centre we are looking dangerous.
He said Jacob Chahine got thrown forward in the second half against Kyneton and kicked six goals in a half, while Zak Saad continues to do what he does best.
Galea played just three quarters of a practice match as they managed his load during the pre-season.
Brock Landt is another set to feature up forward and has just returned from playing in the Northern Territory.
Bray said the side was keen to play finals this season.
“Finals is what we are aiming for,” he said. “We’ll see what happens there.
“It’s tough with Deer Park coming in, but we look at it as a challenge.
“We’ll take on the challenge and pit ourselves against some good teams and see where we are at.
“We’re confident with where we’re at.”
The Sharks start their season against Hillside at Hillside. The Sharks already have one game under their belts, having played Keilor Park on Good Friday.
