EDFL 2021: Jacana set to field senior side under coach Glenn McIntyre

EDFL Division 2 club Jacana has not played an official match since May 2019. Here’s how it is preparing for 2021.

Premiership player Corey McCawley has stuck with Jacana. Picture: Rob Leeson

Local football clubs have endured a long wait as they prepare to return to the field amid the coronavirus pandemic.

For Essendon District Football League Division 2 outfit Jacana, the wait has been even longer.

The Jaguars last played an official match in May 2019 before a player shortage and financial issues forced them to withdraw from the competition’s senior ranks.

Jacana coach Glenn McIntyre. Picture: Supplied

The club’s hard labour is set to come to fruition when it hosts Oak Park in the opening round of the 2021 campaign on April 10.

Glenn McIntyre, who was poised to lead Jacana last year before the season was canned, has re-signed as coach and revealed it was in discussions with opposition clubs in a bid to field a combined reserves side.

Excitement is building and the Jaguars are “counting down the days” until their senior team returns from recess.

But McIntyre is keen for those not picked to have an opportunity to push for selection each week.

“We’ve got 30 or 31 guys on the list,” McIntyre said.

“But we’ve been in discussions with a couple of neighbouring clubs about maybe combining a Jacana reserves and their thirds, just to make sure everyone gets a game of footy on a Saturday.

“We’re still in talks with a couple of those clubs, but hopefully everyone can have a kick of the footy.”

Corey McCawley and Bryce Dodge – the two remaining members of Jacana’s 2017 premiership side – have re-committed in a boost.

The pair have been appointed co-captains, while the remainder of the senior squad will be made up of developing players in search of a chance at senior level.

“To have those guys, it just helps the younger fellas out with giving them direction,” McIntyre said.

“It’s just invaluable.

“A lot of these guys have worked pretty hard over the pre-season.

“I’m sure not just our guys, but all the guys in the comp, are just jumping our of their skin to play some footy.”

Jacana will have practice matches against Western Region league sides North Sunshine and Laverton next month.

While most clubs have three hit-outs before the season proper, McIntyre said he did not want to overwork his young squad.

He added the fact there were two regular-season byes in the nine-team Division 2 competition would also assist his team.

“We’ve got a really young side … I want them to be able to play the year out,” McIntyre said.

“They haven’t got too many pre-seasons under their belt, so I want to go easy on them.

“Only having 16 games probably suits us better as well, rather than 18.”

McIntyre was a member of Jacana’s 2000 premiership team when it was affiliated with the Riddell District league and won the best-and-fairest the previous year.

Oak Park looms as a difficult first-up fixture for the Jaguars, with the Kangaroos relegated from Division 1 in 2019.