GVL preview | Benalla’s pre-season call to arms shocks comp: rebuild year beckons for Saints

“Benalla Saints are at a crossroads as we look toward season 2022,” its Facebook call-out in January read.

“Our football sides have been decimated with an abnormal amount of off-season departures.”

The loss of its core group, including last season’s leading goal-kicker Nick Warnock, best-and-fairest Callum Crisp and 2018 Morrison medallist Sam Martyn would have a major impact on any side, and leaves the Saints with big shoes to fill.

New coaches Mark McKenzie and Will Martiniello will be tasked with not only ushering through the next crop of Saints youngsters, but with building a side which can remain competitive at Goulburn Valley League level this season.

“It’s been a challenge, there’s no secrets there,” McKenzie said of the Saints’ pre-season.

“We’d love another dozen players at this stage, everyone that left had their reasons and that’s fine, we can only deal with what we’ve got, do the best we can and see where we end up from there.”

The return of 2015 Saints premiership star Josh Marchbank has helped invigorate the depleted side in recent weeks, with a number of other ex-Saints throwing their hands up for season 2022.

Brody Webster has returned from Whittlesea and Riley Johnson from Goorambat, two big ins which will further help fill spots.

“Those training are keen — we’ve had a few young kids down training, a few older guys who maybe thought their footy career had finished, coming down and having a run to help the club out which is fantastic to see,” McKenzie said.

“Whilst we’re in a tough situation, the morale is really good.”

A major positive for the Saints is in the two men they have navigating the club through troubled waters.

McKenzie and Martiniello have spent significant parts of their careers at Benalla and have every faith they will get this proud club back where it needs to be.

“Both Will and I, we’ve got the club’s best interests at heart, we’ll do what we can to get through,” McKenzie said.

Their first test of the season won’t be an easy one: a trip to Seymour to face a Lions outfit which many expect to go all the way this season.

They’ll have their work cut out this year, but if there’s one thing the Saints are known for, it’s their fight.

“We’re realistic about where we sit, but we just want blokes that’ll have a go,” McKenzie said.

“We will turn up every week and enjoy what we do — good, bad or indifferent, we want to to have fun and learn and enjoy what we do, that’s they key.”

JOINED LEAGUE: 1896 to 1946, 1998 TO PRESENT NICKNAME: SAINTS GROUND: BENALLA SHOWGROUNDS COACH: WILL MARTINIELLO AND MARK MCKENZIE PRESIDENT: LLOYD JOHNSON PREMIERSHIPS: 1940, 2015 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: T. PASQUALI (1999), R. PRIEST (2008 JOINT), L. MORGAN (2013), W. MARTINIELLO (2014), S. MARTYN (2018 JOINT) 2021 FINISH: 7TH (5-6) 2021 BEST-AND-FAIREST: CALLUM CRISP 2021 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: NICK WARNOCK (23)

PLAYER CHANGES

IN: Josh Marchbank (Diamond Creek), Brody Webster (Whittlesea), Riley Johnson (Goorambat), Myles Aalbers (Rand Walbundrie Walla), Tom Downie

OUT: Callum Crisp, Nick Warnock, Sam Martyn (Myrtleford), Riley Moran, Lachy Thompson (Benalla All Blacks).

GAME CHANGER

JOSH MARCHBANK: Marchbank’s return marked a serious resurgence to the mood at the showgrounds. He’s a player who has tasted premiership success at Benalla and is sure to inject a competitive edge back into the Saints’ ruck after the departure of Crisp. His link-up with Martiniello through the middle will be vital if the Saints are to remain competitive this season.

FINISHING RANGE

9TH-11TH: This will be the year of the rebuild for the Saints. Despite the return of a number of important players, the bad outweighs the good. The side looks far different to the one it did last season and a drop in placings is to be expected. That said, Saints faithful will back their side all the way in and those that underestimate them may do so at their own risk.