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MARONG has ticked off one of its recruiting targets by securing Eaglehawk premiership player Sean Williams to boost its forward stocks.
Williams joins the Panthers having played in Eaglehawk's 2018 BFNL premiership team - a game in which he kicked five goals in the grand final win over Strathfieldsaye.
The 25-year-old has played five seasons at Eaglehawk, booting 239 goals and is a three-time leading goalkicker at the Borough.
"Last year we recruited for depth, but this year we feel we only need four or five quality players into the areas we lacked," Marong co-coach Taylor Beard said.
"A key forward was one of our main targets and we're pleased we've been able to get Sean on board."
Williams will be a welcome addition to a Marong side that had only Nathan Devanny (21) kick more than 20 goals last season.
Devanny, who won the Panthers' best and fairest this year, will be a departure from Malone Park to Queensland.
As well as the addition of Williams, who kicked five-plus goals 18 times during his Eaglehawk career, the Panthers have also signed Elliott Massina, who is returning to the field after spending 2019 as an assistant coach at Kangaroo Flat.
"Elliott is keen to pull the boots back on. He will give us some great leadership and some more options in terms of playing forward and back," Beard said.
MARONG 2019 SEASON REVIEW:
Record - 7-9
Percentage - 98.3%
Average for - 74
Average against - 76
Attack rank - 7th
Defence rank - 6th
Quarters won - 30 of 64
Avg. player points - 42.9
Players used - 35
Played every game - 7
Club best top five:
Adam Ward - 53
Kyle Manley - 40
Corbin Fleming - 37
Nathan Devanny - 21
Jeremy Salinger - 19
Top goalkickers:
Nathan Devanny - 21
Zach Turnbull - 15
Taylor Beard - 15
Kyle Manley - 14
Adam Ward - 12
Clearly a bitter pill to swallow for the Panthers in 2019 - the fact is had Maiden Gully YCW not breached its player points in round 14, the Panthers would have been playing finals instead of Calivil United.
As frustrating as that must be for the Panthers, once the dust settles the club will be able to look back on 2019 as a major step forward.
After winning three games in 2018 the Panthers lifted that to seven this year, which could easily have been nine had they not lost to Maiden Gully by a point in round three and Calivil United by three points in round 11.
Certainly proved much tougher to score against this year, cutting their average score against from 108 in 2018 back to 76. Now just need to find a bit more goalscoring power to continue an upwards trajectory next year.
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