By Josh Ward.
It’s set to be a new challenge for the Magpies in Division Three this year following their first premiership in 18 years last season.
Winning their first minor premiership since 2010, Scoresby then thumped Chirnside Park and the Whitehorse Pioneers on their way to the Division 4 premiership.
Craig McKenzie returns for his third season as head coach, saying the group has slowly settled back into a groove throughout preseason.
“We as a coaching group had to think outside the box for what we’re wanting to achieve in the preseason so that we could hit the ground running and then get that momentum back from a good year (in 2024),” McKenzie said.
Retention has been strong so far ahead of the Magpies return to Division 3, with players such as Tim De Geest, Dale Hehir, Cooper Frith and Mason Storr already re-signed immediately after its premiership.
They’ve also picked up three ex-Premier Division players in Tristan Brunning and Jordan Camilleri from Noble Park and Matthew Traynor from Rowville.
McKenzie says Traynor has integrated himself slowly into main training having suffered a minor knee injury and will add a lot to the Magpies with his experience.
He also says that Brunning will provide elite skills coming out of the backline whilst Camilleri running and footy iq have impressed him.
“(All three) have settled in well, they’ve been regular attendees at training, are all contributors to the group and they’re ripping people, which is a big thing for us…
“That’s one thing we’ve always prided ourselves on, making sure we bring in quality people and quality players.”
There’s also a handful of others who’ve signed on, including Trent Schubert who has had previous experience in the EFNL.
“He is one of the most athletic, fit people in your life, he is huge…he’s one we’ve got high hopes for but won’t necessarily push too early.”
There’s also high hopes for some players among the current squad, including Mid-Forward Declan McBean, Lochlan Iddon and young ruckman Caleb Unwin.
“(Unwin)’s young and shot up out of nowhere. He’s barely missed a session, he’ll probably do his apprenticeship down back a little more…and then we’ll keep developing him as a ruck on the sidelines…
“(Iddon) looks ridiculously fit and he’s been very vocal and has been putting action before words in his aspirations for this year. If his preseason is anything to go by then I hope to see him emerge…
“(McBean)’s been excellent, he’s one of our leaders, he’s outstanding and he’s the first guy to go and grab the 19s and say ‘go across here, you’re with me’.”
And whilst the side has improved heading into a new division, McKenzie is hopeful the Magpies can fine tune their game plan enough to help it settle into Division 3.
“We weren’t the best team right from the word go (last year), but what we made sure was that by the end of the season, no one could work us out the way we worked them out and we were better.
“That’s my hope, that we learn and adapt really fast and not get caught up on things that don’t go our way straight away, but get caught up on improving and evolving.”
Scoresby will kick off its return to Division Three in a twilight fixture at home against local rivals Ferntree Gully.