Getting the gang back together
“People think we have gone out and spent a lot of money, but we did not. People want to come back to their club, they want to have success and see the club do well” – Carolyn Middleton
The word coming out of Edenhope-apsley’s football and netball camp is that 2022 is the Saints’ year.
After a tough 2021 Horsham District league season, the club has spent the off-season adding blue-ribbon talent to the senior football side.
Coach Guy Smith said after the Saints ‘struggled bad’ last year, the club decided something had to change.
“Last year was very tough and we pretty much played with a reserves side for most of the year and we thought we had to do something about it,” he said.
“We have brought back some really talented locals to the area.
“We have recruited past players from Melbourne, Geelong, Adelaide and the Wimmera, and it was not hard to convince them to come – they all wanted to put something back into our club.”
Smith said the club was confident of at least a top-four finish.
“Most of our recruits are in the peak of their football career,” he said.
“They are all talented players covering unique positions on the ground.
“It gives us the luxury of totally altering our tactical approach from last year and will allow us to dictate terms across the game.
“When you bring in guys who are talented key-position players, inside midfielders and guys who will patrol the outskirts, you are able to do that.”
Smith said his experience coaching inter-club teams gave him the edge in turning a group of talented players into a quality team.
“Of course, when you have a lot of individual talent across the ground, all recruited at once, it will be our job to get them playing together well,” he said.
“But we have a good plan and I am sure everyone will follow it.”
Smith said he was unable to announce ‘a couple’ of big name recruits, but was happy to share with The Weekly Advertiser most of the
club’s recruiting success. “We are keen to have the three Mcintyre brothers joining us, Ben, Tim and Allan – former Minyip-murtoa players and Edenhope locals, VFL players and Wimmera league medallists,” he said.
“We have also grabbed ruckman Daniel Obst from Kowree-naracoorte-tatiara
league; Matt Butler, a star from Adelaide Hills league; Tanner Robertson from Ballarat league; Joshua Roman, a big and classy utility; Dave Mcleish from Geelong District league, Charlie Campbell from North Central league and Codi Kenny from Taylors Lake.
“Really, we are aiming for a premiership this year.”
Club president Carolyn Middleton said the club’s 2022 mindset began mid-way through last year.
“We had a tough time with border issues and getting players on the field, so we decided to really work hard in that area for the next season,” she said.
“People think we have gone out and spent a lot of money, but we did not.
“People want to come back to their club, they want to have success and see the club do well.
“With their families behind them, people wanted to come home because the town is important to them.”