EFL 2019: Scoresby forwards Dale Hehir and Nathan Hicks depart the Eastern Football League club
Scoresby will be without three key players, including its two leading goalkickers from last year, in 2019 in what could be a blow to the Magpies’ Eastern Football League finals chances.
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Scoresby will be without its two leading goalkickers this year in what could be a blow to the Magpies’ Eastern Football League finals chances.
Former Box Hill forward Dale Hehir has joined Rowville, while Nathan Hicks has signed with VAFA outfit Canterbury after booting 42 goals last year.
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Hehir topped the Division 3 goalkicking charts in 2018 with 71 goals.
Experienced ruckman Danny De Leso has also returned to Ferntree Gully in a further hit to Scoresby’s key-position stocks.
Despite the departures, new president David Renkin was upbeat the Magpies could contend for a top-four berth in the revamped third tier.
“There is always going to be a bit of an issue I suppose trying to fill the void when you lose players of that stature, but I’m pretty confident we’ll find some people among the members we have got to fill some of those vacancies,” Renkin said.
“I haven’t had an in depth conversation with the two individuals (Hehir and Hicks) in regards to their reasons behind leaving.
“I think some of those are based around potentially playing with their mates from some previous clubs. Apart from that I haven’t really gone into the depth on some of the reasons as to why they’ve actually left.”
Scoresby scored its first finals win in seven years last year before bowing out of the premiership race in the preliminary final.
Experienced players Paul and Owen Chadwick, Marc Williams, David Evans-Marcius, Jarrod and Ryan Hicks have indicated they will play on in 2019.
The club also hopes to unveil some new signings in the coming weeks.
Renkin said he expected a tight and tough Division 2 competition this season.
“We’ve had quite a lot of the players sign on willing to play again, which is a fantastic thing, so the list is looking pretty healthy at this stage,” he said.
“Obviously losing a couple of key-position players will cause a few headaches, but I’m sure (coach) Scott (Goldsworthy) will come up with a decent sort of gameplan
“I’d like to think we’d be in the finals and in the mix this season, given the list we’re currently seeing.”
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