7 DAYS TO GO | EFL Media will be previewing each club ahead of the 2019 season with the #InFocus2019 series, all thanks to Yarra Valley Water & Choose Tap.
By: Steve White
KILSYTH will be looking to put a frustrating 2018 season behind it and embrace the challenge of a new season in the revamped EFL.
The Cougars finished 2018 just three games shy of the finals, with eight wins and 10 losses, and unfortunately lost head coach Paul Newlands at the end of the season who had to step down due to health concerns.
Taking over the reins at Pinks Reserve this season is the well-credentialled Justin George.
George joins the club after leading the Shepparton Swans in the Goulburn Valley League last season.
This is George’s second EFL post after a previous term at Balwyn as assistant and has also had stints at Sandringham, West Coburg and Maribyrnong Park.
“I met with the president and football manager about their vision for the club and they have a real passion and purpose to rebuild the club through the juniors, through a very structured approach,” George said.
Despite originally having no plans to coach in 2019, George has wasted no time in readying the troops for the upcoming campaign.
“Pre-season has been terrific – the attitude of the playing group has been fantastic, especially towards the fitness and fundamentals and everyone has bought in,” George said.
The off-season has brought much change to the senior list.
Club captain and 2017 Perc James Medal winner Sean Currey has left the club for Ferntree Gully, along with Michael Russo and Hayden Lovat. The club has also lost Cam Van Florenstein to a coaching role at Heidelberg West, while Ben Fogarty and Alex Benson have gone to Mooroolbark and Croydon respectively. Kilsyth’s leading goalkicker for 2018, Jye Sigserma, has signed with Doveton.
Despite the upheaval of the senior playing list, George isn’t fazed and is looking forward to Round 1.
“The thing about departures is that every club has a big turnover every year, so I’m not too concerned with that at all,” George said.
“All that does is opens up plenty of opportunities for senior and junior players to step up and prove themselves and I’m confident that will be the case this year.”
The focus at the Cougars for this year will firmly be on youth.
“We’re going to be about opportunity and improvement this season, particularly with our junior players,” George said.
“It’s often harder to get improvement out of senior players late in the season towards the finals and that’s where juniors can really step up and show their mettle.
“We’re happy with where our list is and we have picked up some good players along the way.
“We will definitely be focusing on blooding our young players this season.”
Names such as Alex Bull, Paul Blight, Travis Browning, Josh Bentley are among the players who George will be looking to this year.
The Cougars find themselves in Division 4 again in the new alignment for 2019 and are hungry to begin their climb up the EFL ranks.
“The EFL is very strong from top to bottom and always has been,” George said.
“I’ve seen it evolve along the way ever since I was playing in it in the 1980s.
“There’s levels of talent all throughout this league.
“We’re going to have our work cut out for us this season but we’re embracing the challenge and the club is definitely on the rise.
“The committee has worked really hard in the off season and we have a great depth of junior talent, so we’re really excited to get going for 2019.”
Kilsyth opens its 2019 EFL season away to Nunawading at Koonung Reserve on April 6.