EDFL: Strathmore locks in key signings for 2020 Premier Division season
After back-to-back preliminary final defeats in the EDFL’s top flight, Strathmore is under no illusions it needs to improve and has moves swiftly to bolster its list.
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Strathmore coach Matt Horne has declared near enough is not good enough after consecutive EDFL Premier Division preliminary final defeats.
The young Mores have won plenty of plaudits over the past two seasons but have fallen short at the penultimate hurdle against powerhouses Keilor and Aberfeldie, losing by a combined margin of five points.
Strathmore boasts an impressive mix of prime movers and emerging players, while the club also has a thriving junior program.
But Horne warned his side had to improve to earn a shot at the prize it desperately craves in the hotly-contested top flight.
“There’s a bright future, but we’re under no illusions we need to get better,” Horne said.
“We didn’t beat (grand finalists) Keilor or Aberfeldie this year and Pascoe Vale touched us up in one game.
“We were a little bit inconsistent throughout the year, but it’s a really good place to be around. A lot of the guys enjoy each other’s company and the footy club.
“We’ve got high expectations on ourselves.
“We’re in a good spot where guys are enjoying their footy, but no one is content with losing preliminary finals. We want to get better and fire a couple more shots next year hopefully.”
The Mores have been boosted by the addition of utility Jack Johnson from Castlemaine.
Johnson made three appearances for Port Melbourne in the defunct VFL Development League in 2017 and came through the Tassie Mariners.
Horne said Johnson had “good size”, brought flexibility and was keen to earn another chance at VFL level.
Coburg VFL-listed pair Floyd Bollinghaus and William Donaghey have joined as aligned players after making eight senior appearances between them in the state league in 2019.
Bollinghaus is a talented key forward and Donaghey a wingman.
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“They’re still really young guys and are in the age bracket we try and recruit from, being 18-25,” Horne said.
“We’re still speaking to a couple of other guys we’re really keen on.
“But our under-19s finished top of the ladder and went out in straight sets, our 17s won the premiership, our 15s won the premiership, so we want to be really clear that we want to keep spots open for young guys to push into.
“But if good people pop up that fit the way Strathmore wants to do it, we’ll speak to them.”
Horne said Athan Tsialtas had attracted interest from “a couple of VFL clubs”.
Tsialtas booted five goals in the preliminary final defeat to Abers, including three in a remarkable three-minute burst in the final term.
“It was a standout performance,” Horne said.
“It was probably built from seven or eight weeks before that. He went away in the middle of the year when he was in good form, came back, trained really hard and had a great work ethic.
“Last year he got dropped for a preliminary final, so he’s really developed and hopefully he can make it at VFL level and have a good crack at it.
“That would be a great result for him and the club.”
Strathmore has not waved goodbye to any key senior players.
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