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By: Daniel Cencic
AN identified need for depth off the back of its 2018 campaign has driven Rowville’s recruiting regime this off-season.
The Hawks finished fourth on the Division 1 ladder last season, winning 12 matches before their season ended at the hands of Blackburn in the elimination final.
“The one thing we found last year was that we had a successful season, (and) Blackburn certainly played some good football in the back-end of the season,” senior coach John Brown said.
“I guess we’ve identified too that we needed some depth on our list and we had some key personnel go down with injuries from about Round 15 onwards.
“As much as we create a pathway and give young guys some opportunity, when you’re playing some exceptional teams in the EFL in the top division, then you need that depth.
“We were probably a little deficient when we ventured into our finals campaign and we were exposed on elimination final day, especially in the third quarter.
“At the same time, we’ve got another 12 months of education and development into the young list that we have.
“With the amendment to the way the League will run with 10 teams in Premier Division, we know it’s going to be exceptionally hard all season.
“We went into Round 18 with five players under the age of 20 and we had two 18-year-olds and three 19-year-olds.
“Into the finals, four of those represented us – that’s only going to hold them in good stead in playing in a high-pressure game and they all contributed in various ways.”
The club has signed Box Hill Hawks premiership midfielder Anthony Brolic on a full-time basis for season 2019, after 17 matches with the VFL outfit last year limited his Rowville appearances to two outings, while Dale Hehir has transferred from Scoresby.
Hehir claimed the goal-kicking honours the Division 3 competition last season with 65 majors, and was named in the 1116 SEN Division 3 Team of the Year in the forward pocket.
Brolic in action for Rowville last year. PHOTO: Gavin Morris/Leader Newspapers
Ex-Dandenong Stingrays Tom Freeman and Bailey Morrish have aligned with the club, also listed with VFL clubs Casey and Williamstown respectively.
Meanwhile, Daniel Ousley returns to Seebeck Oval after a season at Forest Hill, as 19-year-old former Hawks junior Taine Barlow re-joins the club after three seasons at Vermont.
After 12 months in Western Australia, midfielder Ben Giobbi has relocated back to Victoria, playing 10 senior matches for WAFL club Perth in 2018.
Giobbi last played in the EFL in 2017 at Noble Park and represented the League at senior interleague level in 2016.
“One of the key things is to make sure we’re bringing in players that have got some top-end talent, but at the same time, hold the values of where we’re heading as a club, on field and off field,” Brown said.
“All those players in those positions are guys with really good substance and great personality, and they’ve certainly got some great football pedigree as well.”
Matt Robinson features in the Hawks’ key departures, with the 30-year-old playing 77 senior games for the club across five seasons.
Former Williamstown and Frankston-listed Michael Sikora is headed to the AFL Outer East competition after 28 senior matches with Rowville, along with Daniel Zajac who represented the Hawks in 69 senior games from 2014-2018.
“We’ve lost some experience, we’ve lost a handful of guys that were 30 or over in their age bracket – that’s games played, experience and leadership,” Brown said.
“We’re disappointed to lose some of those players but at the same time they’ve also identified where they’re at with their football and their commitment – they’ve wanted to step down a level of football and we’ve respected that – it was done in really good mutual respect.”
Finals are on the agenda again at Seebeck Oval.
“Anything under that (finals) is probably not achieving what we’ve set out to, and once we’re participating in finals and hopefully that eventuates, then we’d certainly love to win at least one finals game,” Brown said.
“Once you’re in finals, you need a healthy list to be able to go deep – we’re hoping we can go into a finals campaign with everyone fit and healthy and ready to go.”
Rowville takes on North Ringwood at Quambee Reserve in Round 1 on Saturday, April 6.
