PLAYER CHANGES:
IN: Mark Baker (North Melbourne VFL)
OUT:
Giving young up-and-comers the opportunity to play senior football is one of the main goals from a Cobram side that has not changed a lot this year.
Mark Baker has joined the club from North Melbourne VFL, with no fewer than 13 top-age players coming out of thirds footy.
After a second-placed finish last season and an 11-2 record, Tigers coach John Brunskill appeared more focused on developing young players than setting a definitive results-based goal for the year.
Brunskill said it was so far so good for his side’s preparation, with a squad much the same as last year and a focus on youth set to underline the season.
“We’ve got 13 top-age kids coming up out of thirds footy and so just giving them the opportunity to play senior footy,” Brunskill said.
“We couldn’t really afford to go out and recruit a heap of players, we just retained what we’ve got, which are mainly local players anyway and are just going to promote from there.
“We’ll put our best foot forward and see what happens.”
Brunskill said the word on the grapevine was that most other clubs had recruited well and would improve a fair bit.
He made note of the youth coming through the Cobram ranks, notably NAB League Murray Bushrangers star Harry Beasley.
“Harry Beasley comes out of Bushrangers, he was the captain of the Bushrangers, he is playing with us this year, so he’ll be ideal, one to keep an eye on,’’ he said.
“And just our young kids coming around, players like Hugh Hyde, Ryan Mele, Lachlan Adams, Jack Beasley, they played senior footy last year, when they were top-age thirds.
“Just hoping for them to improve as well and take that next step.
“They were playing on-ball last year at top-age thirds for us, even seniors when they came up, so we know they can play senior footy, it’s just to keep developing them.”
Brunskill said he had one main goal heading into the season.
“Just to be the best we can, just give all the kids the opportunity.”
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