Payneham Norwood Union suffers player losses ahead of 2022 Adelaide Footy League season
There’s been some significant departures at Payneham Norwood Union – but the division one grand finalists’ new coach says the list is still strong.
Local Sport
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First-year Payneham Norwood Union coach Jeremy Cini says he is “buoyant” about the club’s playing stocks heading into 2022, despite the departures of a string of key A-graders.
The defeated division one grand finalists’ strong signings of Brad McKenzie and Ben Sawford has been tempered by a string of player losses.
Leading goal kicker and best and fairest Liam Davis retired along with SANFL premiership ruckman Sam Baulderstone, club stalwart Nick Jolly is set to move interstate while ex-Redlegs Kristian Roocke (Old Ignatians) and Patrick Levicki (Pembroke Old Scholars) have switched to rival Adelaide Footy League teams.
Rising defender Max Hodges has also left to pursue league football at Norwood and star wingman Anthony Wilson will spend part of next season as a SANFL top-up player with Port Adelaide.
The Messenger understands at least three other Falcons with A-grade experience are also on the way out.
Cini said the additions of ex-North Melbourne player McKenzie and SANFL midfielder Sawford would lessen the blow of the departures.
“The guys we’ve lost in Roocke, Levicki, Jolly and Baulders, I think we’ve been able to cover with Brad, Ben Sawford and another couple we’ll hopefully announce soon,” said Cini, who took over from playing coach Jace Bode.
“Then we’ve got a couple of blokes coming back who haven’t played for a few years, some guys who have played div one at other clubs previously.
“I’m pretty buoyant about where the list is at, now it’s just a matter of getting it right on field. we’re happy with where we are at.”
PNU, which went down to Prince Alfred Old Collegians in the division one grand final, plans to announce a new recruit in the coming days.
The Falcons will hit the track for their first pre-season session under the new coach next week.
Cini said the focus would be to get the squad accustomed to the new game plan with plenty of chance to break into the senior line up.
“There’s a group of probably 12 to 13 guys who have been around the fringe, knocking on the door and they’ll get the opportunity to get picked and play some more A grade footy,” he said.
PNU – premiers in 2019 – have missed the finals just once since returning to the top flight in 2015.
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