EDFL 2019: East Sunbury’s depth to be tested in Division 2

An eventful summer means East Sunbury’s depth is set to be severely tested this season following the club’s maiden EDFL Division 2 grand final appearance.

Dejected East Sunbury players after last season’s grand final loss. Picture: Hamish Blair

East Sunbury’s depth is set to be severely tested this season following the club’s maiden EDFL Division 2 grand final appearance.

The Thunder fell six points short of hoisting the silverware in 2018 and have waved goodbye to four members of the team which lost to Roxburgh Park.

But the club has also had several teenagers depart over summer, robbing it of the depth which helped it advance to the final game of the season.

INJECTION OF EXPERIENCE FOR COBURG DISTRICTS

ROXBURGH PARK SKIPPER ‘EXCITED’ ABOUT DIV 1 CHALLENGE

BROWNLOW MEDAL WINNER TO LINE UP IN LOCAL FOOTY

MAJOR SIGNINGS GIVE MOONEE VALLEY A BIG LIFT

EX-AFL PLAYERS HEADLINE AVONDALE HEIGHTS’ LOSSES

“Losing the juniors and the under-19 kids hasn’t helped because we really drew on them to bring them up, give them a game and educate them in senior footy,” coach Glenn Hopkins said.

“We’ve lost that, so it puts a lot more pressure on our depth now with our reserves players. We’ve got to bring those top six or top eight players from the reserves up and get them really providing depth.

“It’s going to be interesting for us this year, but certainly our best 22 are, as proved last year, as good as anyone else I would think.”

East Sunbury coach Glenn Hopkins. Picture: Josie Hayden

East Sunbury has lost Jorden Braddy (Aberfeldie), Brad Bernacki (Gisborne), Connor Lever and James Cree (both Sunbury Lions).

On the plus side, midfielder Bryce Whelan has arrived from East Keilor, while Hepburn’s Tom Godsell is set to replace Braddy in the ruck.

“Bryce gives us pace, and that’s something we need,” Hopkins said.

“Tom will give us a good contest as a ruckman. He’s a good moving ruckman, he’s quite athletic and gets around the ground well.”

Nathan Coy, a half-back flanker from University Hawks in Townsville, will also add speed.

Mitchell Ash, who played 13 games last season, has been a standout on the track during pre-season.

“I think for a lot of them getting to know a lot more about footy is the major thing,” Hopkins said.

“I’ve lost a lot of under-19 players, so the (training) numbers haven’t been as strong as we would’ve liked.

“But the guys who are there are working hard.

“We’ve got a bit of work to do yet, but we’ll be right to go.”

The Thunder was rocked by Steve Grey’s resignation in June last year — when it sat on top of the ladder with a 7-2 record — and a four-match losing run threatened to derail its campaign.

But the club came within a whisker of tasting premiership glory under the guidance of experienced mentor Hopkins and will enter the season as a contender to go one step further.

East Sunbury will meet Coburg Districts in the opening round of the campaign on April 6.