Eastern Football League: The Basin re-signs coach Justin Stanton, along with majority of its list
EFL Division 2 outfit The Basin has wasted little time preparing for season 2021, with a decision made on coach Justin Stanton’s future and several key players re-affirming their commitment to the club.
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Eastern Division 2 club The Basin has retained the majority of its playing list for 2021 as senior coach Justin Stanton put pen to paper for next season.
While the season shutdown put paid to any on-field expectation the Bears had this year with a “fit and healthy” list, Stanton said the club has turned the spotlight on next year by keeping its group intact.
“That’s been our focus and this is the time of the year when you’re usually re-signing people anyway,” he said.
“We’ve just tried to keep things as normal so even though we’re not playing footy, we’re still planning for next year obviously.
“At this stage, we’ve signed just about everyone.”
On the leadership front, co-captains Trevor Mills and Shane Davidson have been reappointed for next season.
Stanton said Davidson, who crossed from top-flight powerhouse Vermont, was “eager to get into it next year” following an interrupted start to his time at the Bears with injury in 2019 and the COVID-shutdown this year.
“It’s just unfortunate that when we signed him, his first year was 2019, he fractured his collarbone so he missed eight games — but the impact he had on the club and the group was exactly why we identified him,” Stanton said.
“This year he had a strong pre-season and was unanimously voted in as a co-captain.”
Exciting young on-baller Nick Hallo has also signed after his 2019 best and fairest season for the club, as well as experienced three-time best and fairest Josh Adams.
With a core of young talent, Stanton said the club had room to move on the recruiting front to further its list.
“There’s just a plethora of our young guys that we’ve got 40 to 50 games in now, they’ve all re-signed,” he said.
“We’ve got a number of points free that we can use to add to our list.”
While the club is in a sound position during the coronavirus crisis, it’s bracing itself for more challenges in 2021, with the salary cap set to be slashed by AFL Victoria.
“Financially, the club’s well-placed,” Stanton said.
“We still anticipate there’ll be COVID challenges, employment challenges for some of our players that we need to try and assist, and salary cap challenges with regards to the proposed revamp.”
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