EDFL 2019: East Sunbury locks in coach Glenn Hopkins for 2020

East Sunbury boss Glenn Hopkins discusses the club’s planning for next season after being reappointed, while one of the Thunder’s key players has also re-signed.

East Sunbury coach Glen Hopkins. Picture: Rob Leeson

East Sunbury can start planning for 2020 after reappointing Glenn Hopkins as coach.

The experienced mentor took over the top job from Steve Grey midway through last year and led the club to the EDFL Division 2 decider, which it lost to Roxburgh Park.

The Thunder have had a challenging season and sit in fifth spot on the ladder with a 5-6 record but they remain a faint hope of contesting finals.

Kane Murfett fires off a handball for East Sunbury on Saturday. Picture:Rob Leeson

“We know where we’ve got to go and how we’re going to get there is in the planning stage at the moment,” Hopkins said.

“It’s about growing the whole club I suppose and it was good to get reappointed so soon.”

East Sunbury has also re-signed Lucas Shaw and Hopkins said the club will look to lock away more senior players in coming weeks.

Ensuring it fields an under-19 side next season is also among the top priorities.

“We’re trying to lock down all the senior players we’ve got, which gives the club some stability, and players need to know who’s going to be there,” Hopkins said.

“That’s been our first priority, to get those players on board, which looks pretty positive at the moment.

“This year’s been a bit disappointing for us. Losing the under-19s has probably been the biggest issue for us. We just haven’t had the talent to bring up into senior footy.”

The Thunder is in its seventh year in the EDFL’s senior ranks and Hopkins said it continued to work on “growing our culture and leadership”.

Jorden Braddy (Aberfeldie), Brad Bernacki (Gisborne) and Connor Lever (Sunbury) were key departures over summer, but the club has confidence in its stable of young talent.

“We’ve been able to settle some areas, especially the backline,” Hopkins said.

“We’ve been able to play the same backline all the way through, so we’re growing those guys as a group.

“I think the whole deal this year has been to get players to play together more and be part of a group. That real team ethos is what we’re pushing.”

East Sunbury swept aside Hadfield by 51 points at home on Saturday, 13.14 (92) to 6.5 (41).

Just six points separated the sides at three-quarter-time before the Thunder piled on seven goals to one in the last term.

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