EARNING THEIR STRIPES
GROVEDALE has welcomed a host of recruits as it embarks on its 2021 GFL campaign. The Tigers have added eight new faces — Sam Kyatt, Mitch Tuddenham, Ryan Abbott, Josh Carkeek, Seth Fiegert, Liam Phillips, Brayden Mitchell and Elijah Gillie — following a fruitful off-season.
GROVEDALE has unveiled its bag of recruits for 2021 as coach Daniel Fraser embarks on his first season in charge at Burdoo Reserve.
The Tigers have signed eight new faces for their GFL campaign, headlined by ex-AFL ruckman Ryan Abbott.
Sam Kyatt, Liam Phillips (Redan, Ballarat FL), Mitch Tuddenham (East Point, Ballarat FL), Josh Carkeek, Brayden Mitchell (Geelong West, GDFL), Seth Fiegert (St Mary’s) and Elijah Gillie (Tongala, Murray FL) are the other additions.
Fraser has signed until the end of 2023 and wants to put Grovedale back in flag contention in that time as it strives for a maiden GFL flag.
“We want to be a much improved team in 2021. We’d love to be playing finals for 2022 and then hopefully the end of 2023 we’re thereabouts — a top-three side in the competition,” Fraser said.
“That would be the ideal model of what we’re aiming for. We’ve stabilised the footy club. We’ve got a group that’s hungry for success.
“The group’s going to stick together and I think they’re the cornerstones of being an attractive footy club going forward.”
Grovedale has also added Harrison Whyte and Brady Campi to its leadership group and will also look to give the club’s young talent senior opportunities.
It has Brady Ferguson, Lachlan Hood, Mitchell Knevitt, Indy Parish, Chris Seymour, Billy Spicer, Jak Tute and Cooper Whyte on the Geelong Falcons list.
Fraser labelled Whyte and Campi as the “future of the footy club”.
“I believe that our eight Falcons kids will get an opportunity at some stage during the year,” he said.
“Having a really young group, we think it’s important those youngsters in our group are represented (in the leadership group).
“We couldn’t go past two guys that are Grovey people through and through and we reckon they’ll be great additions to our leadership group.”
Fraser said he believed Grovedale could rise from a five-win campaign two years ago and make its first finals appearance since 2016.
“Our skill level will be a lot better than previous years. I honestly believe that we’ve trained a hell of a lot better than what we have previously,” he said. “The standards around the footy club have improved and the culture around the footy club’s improved.”
“I believe we’re going to stay in games a lot longer and I honestly believe that we’re going to be a lot harder to play against.
“Improvements in all those things I’ve just mentioned will make for a more competitive Grovedale outfit.”
Grovedale opens its season against Bell Park at Burdoo Reserve on Saturday.