Eastern Football League: Forest Hill re-appoints coach Justin Scicluna for 2021
Eastern Division 4 club Forest Hill has wasted no time during the season lay-off with the re-signing of coach Justin Scicluna, along with a host of key names.
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Eastern league Division 4 club Forest Hill has re-appointed coach Justin Scicluna for season 2021, and he’s begun to sign on a number of key players.
The Zebras mentor was headed into his second year at the helm before the coronavirus crisis hit and forced the season into shutdown, after a 7-9 record last year for a sixth-placed finish.
“(It) is a bit disappointing with the season not going ahead, but out of our control unfortunately … we use this time now to be smart and plan for 2021,” Scicluna said.
Scicluna has wasted no time in gaining the signatures of key personnel after his re-appointment this week.
Recruited at the end of 2019, 2017 Knox premiership star and key forward Mitch Hanegraaf has re-committed for 2021 along with on-baller Steve Naylor who crossed from Division 1 outfit, Wantirna South.
Meanwhile, utility and 2017 reserves premiership player Mitch Newman has also signed on, whom Scicluna said was “important to the way we structure up”, along with under-19 talent Jai Vanderwert.
“As soon as that (coaching re-appointment) was announced, I’ve already had probably 10 meetings with existing players which is my focus right now,” Scicluna said.
“About eight of them have re-signed for next year, and that’s including our under-19 group which is probably the most exciting factor for 2021 – we’ve got 22 under-19s who are all top-age that are going to transition through to the seniors.
“It’s disappointing we weren’t able to get the season up to see what these guys could really do when the whips are cracking.”
The 2021 campaign poses as a blank canvas for Scicluna following this year’s recess, and he believes we’ll see a much more even playing field when they return to action next season with salary caps set to be slashed.
“I think what it will do, especially in the changes in the landscape of salary caps, it’ll bring the playing field back to that middle level - everyone gets an opportunity to really stamp themselves for 2021,” he said.
“What it (the 2020 season shutdown) has done for us is it’s enabled us to raise more funds with fundraisers on the side, put some money in the bank, which will allow us to be more proactive and not put so much pressure on our volunteers to raise money.”
Still undecided as to whether he’ll pull the boots on next season, Scicluna said the club’s focus remained on developing youth.
“It (Scicluna playing) will probably be dependent on how many numbers are on our list,” he said.
“I want to try and play as many of our young blokes as I possibly can, and I don’t want to be stepping in the way of what will be a club-first mentality going forward.”
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