Border reinforcements
Football leaders at Horsham District league’s most north-western club turned their attention to the new season quickly after their 2022 campaign.
Kaniva-leeor United finished last season 11th on the ladder with three wins, however percentage knocked the Cougars down from what could have been a potential eighth-placed finish.
Two significant losses in the first two rounds of 2022 dented the Cougars’ early-season momentum, before defeating a travelling Taylors Lake in round three.
Club president Ben Dunstall said incoming new senior coach Phil Henseleit was appointed ‘early’ after the end of last season, which gave the squad direction heading into the Christmas break.
Mr Dunstall said a Kaniva-based contingent of players were continuing with the club for 2023.
He said several former Kaniva players would also return to the club this season, joining a young group of travellers from South Australia.
“Recruitment this off-season has gone really well, and we have boosted the numbers on our list with local boys,” he said.
“Our reserves won’t have to step up to senior level if they don’t want to, because of our numbers.
“Some of our recruits know they will be up for a bit of travel this season, with some players from Adelaide and other parts of South Australia, so their commitment to the club is great.”
Henseleit said he had sought to understand what Cougars players wanted to achieve this season and set about providing them with the means to make that happen.
“The players were disappointed with their results last season,” he said.
“But they have accepted it and have decided they wanted this new season to be different.
“I am not a coach to set a goal tied to results. I am not going to say we expect ‘X’ many wins this season.
“There are different personnel at the club in 2023, and as far as I’m concerned, it is a completely new team.”
Midfielders in North Gambier’s Dylan Munn, Millicent Saint Billy Shanks and Tailem Bend’s Lachie Jones are new players from across the border who have joined the Cougars in the off-season.
Previous Cougars brothers Beau and Jeremy Nunan will also return to the club for 2023.
Henseleit said recruiting focused on, firstly, people of ‘great character’, and secondly, players who could offer ‘credentialed’ experience.
He thanked the club for its support.
“I really appreciate the support the club has given me, and I enjoy seeing the effort the players are putting in at training,” he said.
“They are a group that makes sure they see things through when the going gets difficult.”
The Cougars kick off their 2023 season with the longest trip on their calendar – a round one match against Swifts at North Park, Stawell.