EDFL 2019: Coburg Districts boosts Division 2 experience with key recruits

A valuable injection of experience has left Coburg Districts in a strong position to right the wrongs of last season’s finals miss in EDFL Division 2.

CJ Grampsas has put pen to paper with Coburg Districts. Picture: Kylie Else

A valuable injection of experience has left Coburg Districts in a strong position to right the wrongs of last season’s finals miss in EDFL Division 2.

The 2017 runner-up has added East Keilor trio Tom Gleeson, CJ Grampsas and Paris Grampsas after finishing fifth with a 7-11 win-loss record last year.

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Coach Chris Tankard identified a lack of on-field leadership as an issue which hampered his side last season after the experienced Josh Russo departed early in the campaign.

The Lions also lacked consistency, underlined by the fact it defeated three of last year’s finalists — Northern Saints, Moonee Valley and East Sunbury — but lost to sixth-ranked Burnside Heights twice.

“I definitely think we’ve addressed it with the inclusions,” Tankard said.

“They’ve got some good footy history and have been amazing. They’ve taken ownership of training and they’re running probably 60 or 70 per cent of training sessions for me.

“The loss of Josh Russo out of our group and not having his cool head on game day out on the field…down the stretch we weren’t as composed.”

Coburg Districts star Tom Lucin on the burst. Picture: Mark Dadswell

Classy forward Gleeson, who has also had stints with Strathmore and St Bernard’s and VFL clubs Coburg and Footscray, headlines the arrivals.

He has signed on as a playing assistant coach and could succeed Tankard in the top job in coming years.

“He’s been really, really pushing the group with some strong standards and both him and CJ have been amazing with the way they speak to the group and direct the group,” Tankard said.

“It’s good to have another voice.”

The Lions have also secured forward Mitchell Caddy from Melton Centrals.

“Just with his training intensity, and he’s pretty quick and he’s a big boy, he’s really surprised me,” Tankard said.

Youngsters Ben Fisher and Michael Osterman have crossed from Moonee Valley and will add speed.

Former skipper Nick Georgeades and Dan Campbell have retired, while Alex Johnson has moved to Essendon Doutta Stars.

Coburg Districts will meet grand finalist East Sunbury in the opening round before tackling flag fancy Jacana in Round 2.

“We expect to be playing finals,” Tankard said.

“That’s what the group expects and we’ll be pushing hard.

“But we’ll know after Round 2, after playing East Sunbury and Jacana, where we sit.”