EDFL 2020: Glenroy’s Jay O’Donoghue retires after neck injury
Glenroy’s Jay O’Donoghue will remain involved with the EDFL club in 2020 after a serious injury cut his football career short, while the Roys will also be without three premiership players.
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Glenroy will be without four of its leading players in 2020 after a neck injury forced young midfielder Jay O’Donoghue to call time on his promising career.
The 22-year-old suffered the injury in the first quarter of his side’s EDFL Premier Division clash with Avondale Heights last July.
He made three senior appearances after the incident but made the call to retire after undergoing neck surgery last month.
O’Donoghue has played 19 games for the Roys over the past two seasons and was also listed by VFL club Coburg.
“Unfortunately the knock he copped that day really set him back,” Glenroy coach Ross Terranova said.
“He went in in December and he’s been in a neck brace the last six or so weeks, which is a shame because he’s a great kid and bloody good player.
“But he’s going to stay involved and do our running for the year.
“It’s very hard to replace good players and good people.”
The news comes on the back of the departures of 2017 premiership players Jayden Walker (Diamond Creek), Josh Trembearth (Hillside) and Steven Golding (Hadfield).
While Golding played 15 games last year, Trembearth and Walker were limited to nine matches between them.
“Josh only played eight games last year, but he’s a Glenroy junior and a quality player and premiership player, so he’ll be sorely missed,” Terranova said.
“Jayden Walker only got the one game in last year. His body probably let him down a little bit.
“As a football club, we understand blokes want to go back to their local clubs and it’s just a shame because Steve is 26 years of age and he’s certainly got some A-grade credentials.
“It was disappointing, but we also have to look on the other side and understand it’s still local footy and if you want to go back and help your junior club, then so be it.”
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On the plus side, 2015 St Kevin’s premiership player Nick Meehan will bring valuable experience to the Roys, bolstering their key position stocks.
Defender/midfielder Tyler Bell has joined from Shepparton Bears, while the pacy Caine Schofield has put pen to paper after establishing himself as a senior regular at East Sunbury.
Wingman/ half-back Will Humphreys and midfielder Tom Moonee have joined from La Trobe University.
“Hopefully we’ll look a bit better on paper, but it’s an unknown quantity until you actually get to practice matches,” Terranova said.
“The boys look pretty good on the track, put it that way.”
Glenroy finished eighth in 2019 with a 4-1-13 record, matching the four wins it posted the previous year.
But Terranova pointed to his side’s win over preliminary finalist Strathmore and draw with Pascoe Vale as evidence of progress.
The Roys also lost seven games by 26 points or less despite battling a long injury list.
“From all that statistics we took down last year, we improved,” Terranova said.
“Our defence improved by 50 goals and we were probably a little bit down in our forward line, but it didn’t help that Jayden Walker and Aaron Kite contributed only four games for the year.
“For two or three games, we had 27 blokes injured or unavailable.
“That hurt us and really affected our depth.
“It is difficult to cover the blokes we’ve lost, but hopefully the ones we’ve brought in will be able to do a job for us.”
Glenroy will face Maribyrnong Park in Round 1 on April 4.
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