FAST FACTS
FOOTBALL COACH: SEAN HORSBURGH 2021 FINISH: 7TH 2021 BEST-AND-FAIREST: JOSH MELLINGTON 2021 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JOSH MELLINGTON (113) GROUND: VIOLET TOWN RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: TOWNERS
“The Legend Returns”, was the announcement early in Violet Town’s off-season, with news Sean Horsburgh would take the senior coaching reins in 2022 after a two-year hiatus.
Having already done it all as a player, Horsburgh will lead from the touchline this year in a non-playing role, the club keen to utilise his knowledge and experience for its young group.
As far as the list goes it’s a formidable one; the Towners fortunate to hang on to several key players in the off-season.
Gun forward Josh Mellington stole league headlines last season, clinching the leading goal-kicker with an astonishing 113 goals in the shortened season, averaging nine a game.
Horsburgh has tipped his skipper — Ryan Jennings — as someone to watch, while Riley Dowell is expected to make the step up from the Towners’ reserves this year.
“There’s a few players who played a handful of games last season due to work commitments and that sort of thing to start playing full-time this year,” Horsburgh said.
“Our captain Ryan Jennings is someone who I think will be really important for us, and guys like Riley Dowell, who is starting to play in a more full-time role, has been training really hard week in week out.”
Jett Bewick’s return after a year in the Top End is predicted to bolster Towners’ finals hopes, with Bewick also assuming the assistant coaching role alongside Horsburgh.
The acquisition of key forward Jack Exell will offer Horsburgh another option up forward, as well as an interesting opportunity in a forward combination with Mellington.
“We’ve retained most of our list and brought in a few guys who will really add something, I think we’ve got the squad for it — to mix it with the bigger sides this year,” Horsburgh said.
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