Burnside Heights make it three straight wins on Anzac Day

Burnside Heights have won three straight games to start the season and its off-season recruits are playing a key role in helping the Bears play a different style.

Nicholas Gregson continued his great start to life at Burnside.

When Burnside Heights sat down to plans its 2024 off-season recruiting it had a clear picture of how it wanted to play.

Just three games into the EDFL division two season and the Bears are already seeing the fruits of the labour.

Cole Harvey’s side it three wins on the trot on Anzac Day with a 12.11 (83) to 10.10 (70) win over Coburg Districts with recruit Nicholas Gregson again playing a key role with five goals.

The athletic big man has started the season in fine form with 10 goals already to his name in a new look forward line alongside other summer signings Daniel Hovey and Jaydon Stiles.

Meanwhile ruckman Lachlan Evans has also been impressive.

“He’s just got such a good pair of hands,” Harvey said of Gregson.

“We’re still getting used to having a group of big guys down there, it’s something we didn’t have last season. It’s allowed us to be more direct in our ball movement and importantly we’re rewarding the work up the ground.

“Grego isn’t just a deep forward either, he works up and down the ground. He took a couple of telling marks in the last quarter as well.

“There’s still plenty of room for improvement with so many new faces coming in, our connection is still growing.”

Burnside coach Cole Harvey addresses his players.

While the scoreboard impact has been important to Burnside’s start, Harvey said the greater value had been in the experienced heads helping to lead his side.

“When we went out looking to add to our group, experience was something we wanted,” he said.

“Now those guys are leading the young guys. It’s taken a lot of pressure off our captain Jordan Hughes who has carried a lot of the load the last couple of years.

“He was huge himself on Anzac Day.”

Having won the last two games by a combined margin of 32 points, Harvey emphasised just how tight the competition is.

“I’ve always been a strong advocate that our competition is very even,” he said.

“Coaches are continuing to bring better players in. The standard is really lifting.

“Even our new guys have said they’ve been surprised by the level. It says a lot about what every club is trying to do.”

On Thursday, Ferdinando Petrarca, Jordan Hughes, Mason Bawden, Simon Maiolo and Jacob Elia were also named among the better players.

For Coburg Districts, Jack McNamara was named best afield.

Burnside will next tackle East Sunbury while Districts will look to bounce back against Sunbury Kangaroos.