Forward potency a key
If everything goes to plan for Edenhope-apsley in Horsham district football this year, opposition teams will find it hard to contain the south-west outfit.
A quick scan through a west Wimmera group’s senior list reveals a potentially potent forward structure and a healthy variety of avenues to goal.
This year, slotting alongside George Walker, who bagged 63 goals for the Saints last season, will be Steve Butler from Tatyoon and Les Butler, returning after playing only a handful of games in 2016.
Steve Butler has kicked more than 70 goals in each of the past three seasons for Tatyoon and was a key player in the Hawks’ 2016 premiership.
Les Butler also has a reputation as a goal-kicker and is among a string of players returning to the Saints from injury.
Club leaders have been quick to identify what looms as natural strength in front of the sticks and have been busy working during the pre-season on midfield strategies to create opportunities to get the ball forward as quickly as possible.
Coach and roaming ruckman Michael Rowe, in his second year at the helm, said a basic goal after making an elimination final last year was to get to the finals and win them.
“It’s about taking the next step and I realistically think our list stacks up pretty well,” he said.
“But it is going to take a bit of work. Pure talent doesn’t win games and that’s something we’re trying to build up in the guys.
“Yes there can also be a bit of luck involved, but it takes a lot of hard work to be successful and some of the focus has been to build up our work rate.”
Rowe said his first year as coach had provided him with better insight into leading the senior group.
“We had a whole heap of new players come on board as well as me as coach. It took a while to gel,” he said.
“We were also crippled by injuries. This year, without the huge turnover of players and no new game plans to learn, except for a bit of tinkering, we should be ready to go straight away.”
Joining Steve Butler from Tatyoon will be John Butler, who will bolster the team through the centre and across half back. The likes of Dan Richardson, Stan Mcclure, Taylor Milner and Sean Butler will also be in the mix.
“Last year some of our top players only played half the year, so fingers crossed we have a few more available this season,” Rowe said.
“I think our forward line will be as potent as any in the competition and our backline will be strong. We will probably have a few new faces through the middle and we have been focusing heavily on stoppages and getting the ball out of the middle.
“We know if we can get the ball to our forwards they will be pretty hard to stop. We also want to have a variety of guys who can rotate through the middle, so we’re not predictable.
“Our lack of fitness let us down last year and we are trying hard to make sure we find a solid balance between ball and fitness work and combine the two where possible.
“Last year we had a slow start and this year we have Noradjuha-quantong and Kalkee in round one and two respectively – they are huge games for us.”
Rowe confirmed the Saints were still in the process of firming up other recruits, which might influence the make-up of his coaching panel.
He said he would also work closely with coaching staff on the bench.
“As a playing coach there are certain aspects where you want to concentrate on your own game and on-field leadership and there is a need to place trust in the guys on the bench,” he said.
Edenhope-apsley will switch to Tuesday and Thursday trainings at Edenhope from this week and has a practice match planned against Border Districts.
A major off-field development for the club this year is a much-needed $100,000 facilities renovation project at the Apsley ground, which already has one of the best surfaces in the competition.
The Saints are also planning a 1980s Edenhope three-peat premiership reunion during the season.
“I think we’re in for a pretty exciting year with new guys and familiar faces,” Rowe said.
“We’re only going to improve on last year. We play an exciting brand of footy so we will be good to watch.”