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READ MORE - Challenging year ahead for HDFNL clubs: Cole
LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower coach Cameron Van Florenstein is excited by what three new recruits will offer the Bombers in the Heathcote District league next year.
The Bombers have secured brothers Nathan and Matt McLellan from Essendon District club Maribyrnong Park.
Also joining the Bombers in 2021 is Leigh Sobotnicki from Wandella in the Golden Rivers league. Sobotnicki has previously played TAC Cup with the Western Jets and spent two years in the VFL with Werribee.
The Bombers will kick off their pre-season training program on Wednesday night at Gunbower.
"Nathan is a centre half-back and has played on a lot of the good forwards in the Essendon District league. He is also a very attacking player," Van Florenstein said on Monday.
"He's six-foot-three, so he's a really good size and he can also go forward as well. He's a really good inclusion for us.
"We've also picked up his younger brother, Matt, who is a tall forward, and Leigh Sobotnicki is another player we've got who will slot into our midfield and is a very handy player, too."
The three recruits will join what will be very much a new-look Leitchville-Gunbower side in 2021.
Had the 2020 season gone ahead and not been cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic the Bombers were set for a year of rebuilding given they had a departure list of 14 players - most of whom were premiership players with the club.
One of those though who will be back next year is Ayden Walton as an assistant coach.
"There's no doubt we'll be a young side, but when you're fit and young anything can happen," said Van Florenstein, who also hopes to pull the boots on next year in defence, but doesn't expect to play every game.
"It would have been great had we been able to get a year of development into our younger players this year, but they will get their opportunity next season.
"We're happy with how things are tracking along and I'd expect we'd be very competitive.
"I'm really excited to get back up and running and get back to that community feel that we've missed this year without a season being played.
"It has been tough for the community not having sport this year, so we can't wait to get back into it."
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