ELMORE has shifted away from its heavy-reliance on Melbourne-based players and will field a more local side in the Heathcote District Football-Netball League this year.
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New Elmore coach Danny Brewster estimated as many as 14 of the club’s playing list last year were based in Melbourne, the bulk of which won’t be returning this season.
The Bloods were the highest-pointed team in the HDFNL last year with an average of 44.8 per week, with Brewster expecting that figure to significantly drop this year.
“We’ve focused on the locals more than anything else during the off-season and getting some youth back into the team,” said Brewster, who has taken over as Elmore coach from Alex Gleeson.
“We’ve lost a lot of points from last year; I’d say we’ve lost 14 from Melbourne, which includes players like Alex Gleeson, Luke Ryan, Cameron Milward and David Price.
“Of the Melbourne group from last year, the only ones staying on are myself and Travis Mills, who is the assistant coach, and we’ve also picked up my younger brother, Nathan Brewster and Dale Williamson.”
As well as Brewster and Williamson, recruits to the Bloods who have been cleared include MacKenzie Whittle (Huntly) and Nick Page (Colbinabbin).
“We just want to get a bit more of that local camaraderie back around the club and make it a more enjoyable place to play footy again,” said Brewster, who was the HDFNL’s leading goalkicker last year with 85.
“Training has been really good… the guys are all buying in really well and our numbers on the track have been good.
“We’re going to be fairly young with an average age of 21-22, but we’ll have a bit more pace in the side, which we haven’t had over the past few years.”
The Bloods – who finished fifth last year – open their 2017 season at home against White Hills on Saturday, April 8.
Elmore will play practice matches on Saturday, March 18, against Wakool, which is coming out of recess and being led by former Bloods’ coach Steven Arthur, at Elmore, and against Undera at Undera on Saturday, March 25.
