EFL 2019: Coldstream enjoys fruitful recruiting period in the Eastern Football League

Coldstream has enjoyed a fruitful recruiting period in the Eastern Football League as the Cougars hunt their first finals win in 14 years.

Daniel Gordon has returned to Coldstream after seven years at Doncaster East. Picture: Hamish Blair

Coldstream is expecting to be one of the big improvers in the revamped Division 4 this season as the Cougars hunt their first finals win in 14 years.

Coldstream coach Chad Rogers has addressed the shortcomings in his side over the off-season as he approaches his second year in charge, enjoying a fruitful recruiting period.

Doncaster East premiership backman Daniel Gordon is one of the Cougars’ top signings, returning to the club after helping the Lions to last year’s Division 2 flag.

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Fellow key defender Jake Iedema (Wandin) will also help shore up the backline, while small forward Brendan James is another major signing after kicking 200 goals with Yarra Glen and Seville from 2010 to 2017.

Cain Eisele (Chirnside Park) and Bradley Batten-Leitch (Montrose) will add to the midfield, while captain Lauchlan Craig has returned after travelling overseas last year and Jesse Matthews has joined the club from Ringwood.

“We were probably lacking a bit of spine in terms of key backs and a couple of extra midfielders to help out what we’ve already got. We’ve tried to target those areas and I think we’ve done OK,” Rogers said.

“It was good to be able to see what we needed last year and understand what we needed to target and we’ve tried to fill those gaps and I think we’ve gone a long way to doing that.

“We’ll definitely be stronger this year than last year, we’ve improved the depth and probably targetted players that we were trying to fill holes.”

Lauchlan Craig will be a welcome addition for Coldstream. Picture: Brendan Francis

Casey Demons-listed Darcy Fritsch has joined Premier division club Norwood, while Luke McPhee has returned to Wandin after one season at Coldstream.

Coldstream last won a final in 2005 and will be one of the eight clubs to take part in the Eastern Football League’s Division 4 competition this year.

Rogers said his team was “definitely a stronger side” than last year.

“We should be targetting finals, you need a bit of luck and if you keep your list healthy, we should go really well,” he said.

“The top four or five sides are going to be pretty tight, obviously East Burwood have recruited well and were pretty good last year so you think they’d be the favourites going forward.”

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