By Josh Ward
The Panthers of Surrey Park continue to improve year after year, with 2023 set to be a big one for both the men’s and women’s sides.
The men’s side competed in their second consecutive finals series, winning their first-ever EFNL final against Chirnside Park by a whopping 111 points. Competing in their first-ever Grand Final the following week, the Panthers fell 12 points short of the ultimate glory.
New playing coach James Kenworthy recently said that he’s been excited about the growth amongst the entire side.
“The development team has been there or thereabouts the last three or four years and then to see that grow into the senior side and really give Silvan a nudge in that Grand Final was really pleasing as a whole club.
“(It shows) that we are tracking in the right direction.”
This year will be Kenworthy’s first full season as a playing coach after taking over at the halfway point of last year in an interim capacity, saying that he was excited to mentor a young and up-and-coming group.
“Because it’s such a young group, the more I can teach them how to play footy is only going to make us a better unit as a whole.
“Everyone saw in the back half of that year what we’re capable of, I expect us to be there and thereabouts again this year.”
The majority of the side from 2022 has signed on for this coming season, with Kenworthy pleased that they had re-signed for another year at Surrey Park.
“The year before, a lot of guys did go travelling and move interstate so there was quite a bit of change.
“But to have everyone stick around and get around each other, it only sets us up for an even more positive year.”
Amongst those re-signings though, there’ve been a few new signings down at the Panthers.
“Ollie Turnbull (comes) from Traralgon and Jay Pandey who was playing at Berwick. A few additions plus a couple of returning players from years back.
“A few of the 19s boys have (also) been looking really good over the summer so don’t be surprised if you see a couple of young kids debuting this year.”
Matt Garvin and Lachlan Bacon have also signed on for 2023. Ex-Blackburn player Bacon comes across after a year abroad whilst Garvin, who spent 2022 as an assistant coach at Surrey, returns after stints with Vermont and Wantirna South.
The 19s side returns at Surrey following a brief hiatus year, with Kenworthy excited about the added depth it gives the side.
“They’ve been training with us over preseason so far, so to have that young, energetic vibe really pushing blokes to become better it’s only gonna make us stronger in the long run.”
Meanwhile, the women’s side at Surrey is also coming off their strongest season in the EFNL women’s competition, finishing third in Division 2 with six wins and winning their first-ever final against Kilsyth last year.
Inaugural coach Steve DeFranceschi will lead the side once again, saying recently that there’ll be some changes to the side this coming season.
“Players that have caught the travel bug, COVID’s now gone so people are now starting to travel a bit more so I do have quite a number of my ladies who have decided to give this season a miss or they’re quite happy to come and do preseason training and then leave,” DeFranceschi said.
“That’s gonna hurt me a little bit, but in saying that you always pick up a handful of new recruits and we’ll see what happens with the year.”
He’ll be in charge of a young side once again, saying that he’s excited at the proposition but also looking to add experience to the side.
“I’m averaging around the 20-year-old bracket, it’s that experienced player that I’m really chasing at the moment.
“If there’s anything that I’m looking forward to is that challenge of trying to grab a couple of experienced players to come in and give me a hand with some of these young ladies.”
They have managed to bring in some experience though, with Mazenod players Katherine Newman and Jessica Skrzyniarz signing on at Surrey.
Whilst there are many talented players in the squad, DeFranceschi has high hopes for two this coming season.
“Maddi Gray is one of my ladies who started off a little bit on the slower side and then just got better and better as the year went on, without putting too much pressure on her I’m hoping (for) pretty good things from her.
“She’s got a pretty close friend called Bia (Yosrungrueang)…she’s small but she’s a firecracker, she’ll have a crack anywhere.”
And despite the changes that have occurred with the women’s side DeFranceschi has hope that the side can do as good or even better than what they did last year.
“It is still a growing stage for us and I do know that we’re gonna have a few new extra bodies running around and having a kick this year.
“(But) I’d love personally without going too far to equal what we did last year.”
