CASTLEMAINE has added a blend of class and experience to its list with the addition of Simon Seddon for the 2017 Bendigo Football-Netball League season.
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New Magpies’ coach Derrick Filo has focused his recruiting on trying to lure one-point former players back to the club, while also mindful of the need to add some experience to the Magpies’ list through both Seddon and the returning Wayne Schultz.
“Our priorities have been getting our local players back to the club and increasing our talent base of 17 to 22-year-olds, but we also need to add some experience to be able to support that,” Filo said on Friday.
“It’s one thing to go out and play a heap of kids, but you need to be able to put the support around them and we think both Simon and Wayne will give us that experience through the middle of the ground.”
Filo previously coached Seddon at Mount Pleasant in 2015, where he played a mix of midfield and resting forward and won the Blues’ best and fairest.
“He’s a classy midfielder, but he’s a player who can also push forward and kick goals,” Filo said.
Seddon proved just how dynamic he can be inside 50 when he famously kicked 10 goals in the second half – four in the third quarter and six in the last – of Labrador’s QAFL grand final loss to Morningside in 2014.
Seddon’s footballing CV also includes winning a Goulburn Valley league premiership with Kyabram.
He played with Phillip Island last season, earning selection in the Alberton league Team of the Year.
“We think we’ve got enough talent locally to be able to put together a really competitive footy team this year, and getting Simon and Wayne adds to that,” Filo said.
“We’ll probably look to get one more quality player into the mix over the next month or so… we think our list will shape up fairly well.”
Also among the arrivals at Castlemaine this year is the return of forward Joel Smith, who Filo expects will help to offset the loss of Rhys Ford to North Bendigo.
As well as Ford’s move to the Bulldogs, other departures from the Magpies include Brian Mustafa, Chris McKight and Alex Farrow, who have all joined Newbridge.
Filo has taken over as Magpies coach following Shane Robertson’s three years at the helm.
The Magpies – who haven’t played finals since 2005 – won seven games last year, finishing seventh.
Castlemaine has practice matches against Leitchville-Gunbower on March 17 and St Arnaud on March 25, while the Magpies will also aim to play a game on April 1.
The Magpies open their 2017 season with a twilight game against Maryborough from 5.30pm at Camp Reserve on Good Friday.
