17 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: Joseph Arthur
AFTER tasting premiership glory last year, the Whitehorse Pioneers are determined to continue their success in 2019 despite sustaining some significant losses in personnel.
Off the back of 15 wins, three losses and a premiership in 2018, the club will play in Division 3 this season.
Senior coach Jamie Carpenter and captain Maverick Gleed hold the Division 4 cup aloft. PHOTO: Davis Harrigan Photography
Whitehorse had five players make the 1116 SEN Division 4 Team of the Year in 2018; three of those players won’t be returning in 2019.
Midfielder Matthew Mariani and his brother Anthony have returned to East Burwood and just recently, both Jesse Hockey (De La Salle) and Andrew Padbury (Old Scotch) have put through transfers to the VAFA.
Hockey’s departure shortens the team’s ruck stocks, while Padbury is coming off two seasons with the club, in which he kicked 71 and 59 goals respectively as he returns to Old Scotch.
However, Whitehorse skipper Maverick Gleed believes the club has filled those holes through some effective recruiting and may have even strengthened the side by adding some more youth.
“Look they’re good players but I think the guys we’ve got in are more than capable of doing their jobs, I’d say almost better and they’re fitting in a little bit better as well,” Gleed said.
“Time will tell, but I’m not too worried about the departures.”
Whitehorse have indeed been the beneficiaries of recruiting – its joint under-19s side with South Croydon has seen a number of former players commit to playing seniors at Springfield Park.
Young guns Jayson Fabris and Troy Dynes are among those who will join the senior ranks this year, Fabris is coming off winning consecutive best and fairests in the under-19s and both are looking to get a starting senior spot from the get go.
“They’re all looking really good, they’ve played for a Division 1 club so they’ve got some really good standards,” Gleed said.
“Jayson Fabris will definitely play Round 1, he won the last couple of best and fairests for South Croydon and as for Troy Dynes, I reckon he will be a starter too.
“The boys have brought all their mates across as well, Ryan Jones is another one who’s looking really good and will be on the park for us early on.”
Along with the added youth, the team has brought in some more senior recruits, hoping the extra experience will help contribute to replacing the key departures.
Midfielder Jett Guerin, swingman Bart Wallace and forward Rod Church are among the inclusions.
“Jett’s looking really good, I reckon he’ll be really good through the midfield this year, he adds a bit of extra depth,” Gleed said.
“Bart Wallace from Rosebud will feature down back or up forward as a bit of a swingman for us and Rod Church, who played a bit of Division 1 early on and won a best and fairest out at Fairpark, he’s had a couple of years off footy, but he’s keen and looking really fit.”
The Pioneers have moved up a division and yet the season’s expectation remains a finals berth.
“We just want to be competitive and obviously the aim will be to make finals,” Gleed said.
“Obviously we’ve had a few outs but we’ve had a few ins and the competition is very even, there won’t be any easy games but if we can start off well and pinch a few wins early, with only eight teams we’ll be a shot at making finals.
“We’ve done a lot of work on our ball movement, skills and running some new setups that adjust to the new rules – a lot of stuff around decision making and working under pressure too.
“Overall, I reckon the culture’s pretty good and the new players and everyone have bought in to what we are looking to achieve, it’s a welcoming culture down at the Pioneers, as I like to say, we’re a band of brothers.”
Whitehorse Pioneers open their season against Chirnside Park at Kimberley Reserve on Saturday, April 6.