Tea Tree Gully to start 2024 division one season without Luke Brown, Alex McKay

Another division one Adelaide Footy League contender has lost key star players ahead of season 2024 and will look to its youth to reach the next level.

Tea Tree Gully coach Justin Maschotta believes his side can compete again in 2024 despite the loss of multiple big-name players ahead of its division one campaign.

The Gullies will be without former Crow and star utility Luke Brown this season after he sustained a knee injury during the 2023 finals and has opted to take time away from the game, while former premiership star Alex McKay has moved interstate.

The club also saw Chad Schoenmakers and gun forward Ryan Spittle retire ahead of the 2024 season.

“It’s one of those cycles in community footy. You have to ride the ups and downs with list management, which we’re used to,” Maschotta said.

“We’re probably going to have a whole new starting midfield around Blake Penney in ruck but we see it as a positive because it brings a lot of excitement for some young guys who are pushing their case to be in those roles.”

TTG Coach Justin Maschotta has revealed former captain Chad Schoenmakers (middle) retired for season 2024. Picture: Brenton Edwards

The Gullies made it to the preliminary final last season after a slow start, losing to eventual premier Prince Alfred OC.

While players like Brown and McKay were instrumental in that run, Maschotta believed recruits such as Sturt defender Chris Howard, North Adelaide youngster James White, Norwood prospect Noah Hyde as well as former Central District man Chris Olson could have his side competing again.

He also backed in the youth to revitalise his team.

“We’re really happy with our recruits, we signed players to fill different roles and they’ve all been able to get back to the footy club and are having a significant impact already,” Maschotta said.

Maschotta celebrates after the club’s 2018 division one flag. He believed his side could reach those heights again. Picture: Brenton Edwards

“We were behind the Eight ball from the start with injuries last season and we didn’t really have a deep list so we debuted 14 different players.

“I’d say a high percentage of the kids we played weren’t ready for permanent roles in division one footy but with the experience we’ve now been able to give guys I think we can improve and use last season as a stepping stone.

“Prince Alfred has been the benchmark for a while now and for us to compete with them in a prelim was a great reward for us.”

While other clubs such as Port District, Payneham Norwood Union and Golden Grove have strengthened to add to an already competitive division featuring sides like PAOC, Glenunga and Sacred Heart OC, Maschotta believed the premiership window was already open for TTG.

“With the players we’ve added to our young group, I think we can compete.

“We truly believe we’re ready to go and our window is very much open for now and into the future.”