EFL: League best and fairest winner Sean Currey among departures from Kilsyth
Kilsyth will be without nearly half its senior team from last year when it begins its Eastern Football League Division 4 campaign.
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Kilsyth will be without nearly half its senior team from last year when it begins its Eastern Football League Division 4 campaign.
It will be a new-look Cougars outfit that takes to the field under first-year coach Justin George for the Round 1 clash at Nunawading after losing nine players over the pre-season.
Among the departures are captain Sean Currey, who won the 2017 Division 4 best and fairest award.
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It was announced earlier this month Currey had joined Ferntree Gully, as has Hayden Lovat and Michael Russo.
Introducing New Senior Coach - Cam van Florestein. Cam joins the club after playing his football previously with @footyefl Kilsyth Warrandyte & Croydon. Join us in welcoming Cam to the Hawk family #localfooty #wib #brownandgold #aussierules #coach pic.twitter.com/hPFmchMUCk
— Heidelberg West FC (@HeidWestHawks) October 15, 2018
Cameron Van Florestein has accepted the coaching role at Heidelberg West, taking three-time Altona premiership player Ben Fogarty with him, while Ben Benson (Mooroolbark), Alex Bull (Croydon), ex-Upwey Tecoma captain Johnathon Hevern (Monbulk) and Jye Sigersma (Doveton) have also left the Division 4 club.
George said the departures would open the door for emerging players to make a senior spot their own in 2019.
“The club has decided to take a strategic approach and a new direction and not pay a lot of money for players,” he said.
“We’ve really worked hard to encourage some former players to come back, especially some of our more experienced players in mentoring roles with our young list.
“We’ll be young, there is no doubt about that, but with that comes lots of talent and lots of opportunity for improvement.”
In was announced in November that George would take the coaching reins at Pinks Reserve after Paul Newlands stepped down from the role because of health concerns.
He arrived at the club after stints as an assistant at TAC Cup club Sandringham Dragons, Essendon District league outfits West Coburg and Maribyrnong Park and Eastern powerhouse Balwyn.
He also coached Goulburn Valley league club Shepparton Swans in 2018.
George said he had been impressed by the young talent at Kilsyth.
“With the young group we have, there’s a real opportunity for them to prove they belong at senior level,” he said.
“To be honest, I don’t think list turnover is a terrible thing because it provides opportunity for players.
“A new coach like me coming to the club has no preconceived ideas about who can do what and that’s what I say to the group.
“The whole group is really responding to the direction I’ve set and the way I want us to train.
“It’s been an adjustment for a lot of players at this level to train in these new ways. There’s a foundation we’re trying to put in place so there’s a focus on fundamentals and fitness.”
Kilsyth opens its season against Nunawading at Koonung Reserve on April 6.
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