Mitch Clisby and Mitch Harvey clean up, on and off the field
NORTH Adelaide was all about the team this season and that was no more evident than the efforts of Mitch Clisby and Mitch Harvey, with beer in one hand and mop in the other, after celebrating the grand final victory.
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NORTH Adelaide premiership heroes Mitch Clisby and Mitch Harvey had a beer in one hand and a mop in the other at 6am on Monday as they helped clean the club’s Prospect Oval gym.
The pair had celebrated long into the night after the stunning 19-point grand final triumph over Norwood, but they were willing participants in cleaning the facilities for customers.
Roosters chief executive Greg Edwards said the efforts of Clisby and Harvey represented what the team was all about this season in its charge to the club’s first flag since 1991.
Edwards is confident its playing list next season will have a similar look to the squad which claimed league and reserves premiership glory at Adelaide Oval on Sunday.
Highly promising youngster Connor Rozee will be lost to the national draft, while another talented teenager Boyd Woodcock and defender Callum Wilkie have been mentioned as candidates to be picked up by an AFL club.
Long-time servant Leigh Ryswyk, who returned from a rib injury to play in the reserves grand final win over the Redlegs, is the only player to have announced retirement.
Edwards is expecting little change to the roster.
“I don’t think there will be a lot of changes given the ages of the team,” he said. “There are lot of 21, 22 and 23 year olds and they just need to keep improving like this year.
“We have been doing some work with recruiting behind the scenes for the past four or six weeks. We are talking to a few blokes and will target some needs. There could be one or two come in if they are the right fit.”
Prospect Oval was bathed in red and white on Sunday night with 6000 fans joining the players after the victory over the Redlegs.
The players were presented to the crowd at 9.30pm and inspirational captain Max Thring proved the fans’ favourite when introduced on stage. Jarred Allmond and Robert Young, who were recruited this season, also proved popular.
The Roosters sold out of premiership t-shirts and the club has had to put in another order to match sales.
“It was a great night and there were plenty of past players at Prospect Oval,” Edwards said. “Most of the 1991 premiership team was there.”
The players had a private get together on Monday and will unveil the red and white colours on the chimney at the West End Brewery on Tuesday.