Local footy: EDFL club East Sunbury appoints Aaron Kite as 2023 coach

With a new senior coach appointed, East Sunbury is making plenty of noise as it plans to return to senior football in 2023.

The feeling around East Sunbury right now is one of optimism.

Five months ago, it was sadness as the club announced it was withdrawing senior and under 18 teams from the 2022 Essendon District league season.

But the Thunder’s bid to remain in recess for just one season has received a major boost after the appointment of a new senior coach.

Aaron Kite, who is currently playing for Glenroy in the Premier Division, has been appointed to the top job for 2023 and 2024.

Kite brings a wealth of experience to East Sunbury having extensive playing experience which has included stints in the SANFL and EDFL, where he is a premiership player with Craigieburn.

The most exciting part of Kite’s appointment according to Thunder president Ronnie Paoly is the fact, the new senior mentor reached out to the club.

Kite is set to be a playing coach.

“Aaron called me and said he would be interested in sitting down to have a chat,” Paoly said.

“When he spoke, you could sense the passion he has for footy. It’s not about the money for him, he wants to give back to local footy.

“He’s a people’s person. We interviewed him twice and I was sitting there almost ready to pull on my boots and jumper and run out there for him.

“That’s the type of impact we’re expecting him to have on our players. We officially introduced him at our social function on Saturday and he spoke really well.

“Those who attended were really impressed with what they heard.”

East Sunbury president Ronnie Paoly and newly appointed 2023 senior coach Aaron Kite. Photo: Supplied.

Restarting from scratch and recruiting players looks set to be the Thunder’s biggest problem in the coming months.

Sunbury Kangaroos and Rupertswood are in the same competition and are also aiming to attract players to the area.

Meanwhile, Sunbury in the Ballarat league also continues to try and expand the local talent pool.

“Having three clubs from the same area playing in the same competition has made it a little harder for us,” Paoly said.

“But we’re going to be aiming to bring younger guys to our club so they can build with us.

“We don’t have the rich history of other clubs but we’re growing every year. We’re going to be coming back through Division 2 next year to allow us to reset.

“There’s no reason we can’t be the biggest club in our community in the future.”

Cooper McPharlane was East Sunbury’s leading goalkicker in 2021. He is now at Sunbury Kangaroos. Photo: Hamish Blair

Looking back on the decision to withdraw teams from senior competition at the start of the year, Paoly said it was still a little difficult to understand.

“We had seniors, reserves and under 18s (boys and girls) and within a matter of weeks they were gone,” he said.

“We have beautiful infrastructure, a new scoreboard and two ovals. It’s a brilliant set up.

“The committee has done a lot of hard work since we hit the restart button and we know there is more ahead but we’re confident in what we’re doing.”

Paoly is already looking forward to the senior Thunder teams returning to the field with a bang next season.

He’s already eyeing off a potential round one clash with the Kangaroos who sit at the bottom of the Division 1 ladder without a win to their name.

“If I get it my way the game will be under lights,” he joked.

“I think it would be a mouth-watering fixture for both of our clubs.”

Paoly said the Thunder’s junior program is “flying” with several teams well on their way to featuring in finals action in coming weeks.

“We’re excited by the juniors we do have coming through,” he said.

“Getting a senior team back will help us to have that pathway right through the club.”