EFNL 2021: Whitehorse spearhead, boom recruit make Division 3 statement

A returning spearhead has had no problem finding the goals, while a new name has announced himself as a weapon in defence.

Andrew Padbury has kicked 10 goals in two weeks for the Pioneers.

It’s been some start for a returning Whitehorse Pioneers premiership spearhead, while a new addition has announced himself as a weapon in defence.

Star forward Andrew Padbury, who landed back at the club late last year after a season away, has led from the front in attack with a bag of five in both of the Pioneers’ outings to date.

He helped lift the club to its first win of the Division 3 season on Saturday as it defeated Fairpark to the tune of 50 points, and president Alan Bertacco says a change-up in the forward structure has allowed him to flourish.

“They’ve changed the forward structure a bit more to give him more room, because he is a lead-up forward,” Bertacco said.

“So that gave him a bit more space, unlike against East Burwood (in Round 1) under lights where it was a bit tricker and they double-teamed him in the second-half and it was wet as well.

“The opposition back half had their hands full (on the weekend) with a fairly tall forward line with the likes of Tim Law, which makes it difficult for opposition to match up.”

Padbury gets a kick away for the Pioneers in 2018.

Meanwhile, boom recruit Rob MacDougall has had no problem slotting into centre half-back at his new club, after making the move from VAFA top-flight outfit, Old Scotch.

Bertacco said MacDougall’s inclusion had allowed for more freedom down back, releasing the likes of Joel Dalgleish.

And it’s been quite an impression the new addition has made on the club boss.

“He’s an absolute gun, this bloke,” Bertacco said of MacDougall.

“I reckon he took about 15 contested marks (on the weekend), so he’s a sensational player.

“Our back-half played really well and Joel Dalgleish has had a really good start to the year – he’s been freed up a bit on a flank with Rob at centre half-back.

“Joel’s playing a bit more of a sweeping role and he’s enjoying the room to run.”

The Pioneers boasted 10 individual goalkickers in the weekend’s win, with Bailey Mallia and Charles Thorn kicking two apiece.

Bertacco said the additions of Padbury and MacDougall as key pillars at either end of the ground had straightened things up for the Pioneers, while the star forward’s role has differed from when he last represented the club in 2018.

“We’ve got a couple of bookends there with Rob playing well and ‘Pads’ doing nicely up forward,” Bertacco said.

“He’s playing a good team role as well, whereas in the past we were probably too Padbury-focussed.”

Off the field, Duncan Jones has taken the reins as senior coach and has retired from playing due to an ongoing back injury, and he’s combined with former Deer Park assistant coach Jackson Maloney jumping on-board.

Maloney helped oversee four of the past seven top division flags at the Western Region powerhouse club, and Bertacco said the pair had worked well together in the coaches’ box since arriving at Springfield Park.

“Duncan’s got them playing to their strengths and hopefully they got some confidence out of that one (the Round 2 win),” he said.

“They’re both 32, only young blokes, and they’ve got a similar philosophy on how the game should be played, so they’re working well together.”

The Pioneers take on Warrandyte away in Round 3, and are hopeful of regaining ex-Vermont name and playing-assistant Daniel Mendes from a “niggling injury”.