EFL: Brad Taws re-signs as Whitehorse coach, Tom Connell named captain for 2021
The Whitehorse Pioneers have secured their senior coach for next season alongside a host of key names set to serve in the leadership group at the EFL Division 3 club.
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The Whitehorse Pioneers have locked in their senior coach for 2021 with a host of star names set to lead the club.
Brad Taws will coach the EFL Division 3 club next season after landing the role in September 2019, but is yet to take to the coaches box on match-day due to the coronavirus crisis forced season shutdown.
The Pioneers have also unveiled their leadership group, with Tom Connell named captain alongside Michael McDougall as vice-captain.
Former skipper Mav Gleed, Damian Bertacco, Daniel Mendes and Jayson Fabris round out the group.
Taws lauded the reappointment of Connell as skipper who was set to lead in 2020, and said outgoing 2018 premiership captain Mav Gleed would remain a strong pillar of the leadership group.
“He (Connell) was meant to go round (as captain) this year, he’s a great leader with what I’ve seen on the track and he’s well respected around the club – his CV speaks for itself,” Taws said.
“Mav’s stayed on in leadership, I wanted him to stay in the leadership group and concentrate on his football and he’ll be there to support the younger guys coming through.”
The club brought in a host of names for 2020 including Balwyn pair Tom Davis and Josh Norris, Vermont premiership player Daniel Mendes and big-bodied defender Duncan Jones, while former Oakleigh Charger Xavier Fry returned after a year at South Croydon. Star pair and 2018 premiership players Damian and Matthew Bertacco also returned after a year away.
Taws said the new additions for 2020 would all stay on, and was confident the list would remain intact despite the $60,000 player payment ceiling for Division 3 next year.
“Hopefully we can sign a few more guys, I’ve spoken to all the boys and they’ve said they’re staying on,” he said.
“Most of the guys at this level play because they want to play football … and if they get a few dollars it’s a bonus.
“The pre-season that they did this year was pretty brutal, so their commitment was really good – it was a challenge but they enjoyed it.”
Taws said the priority for the upcoming pre-season would be about reuniting the club following the long lay-off.
“Most of the boys have been running right through and they’ve all been on the Strava app … what I’m looking at in the next couple of weeks is what the Premier says or what the league says,” he said.
“For me right now it’s about getting the footy back into their hands and getting the skills back, but more importantly getting everyone back together.”