EFNL 2023: Chirnside Park opts for experience in Division 4 flag tilt
Chirnside Park has bolstered a host of areas on the ground as it sets its sights on the Division 4 prize. But a champion forward has retired ...
Eastern
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A wealth of experience has arrived at Chirnside Park this off-season as it looks to take a further step in the Eastern league’s Division 4.
The Panthers played in a preliminary final last year in their first finals campaign since 2009 after finishing third with an 11-5 record.
They’ve welcomed back former captain Lachlan Tindal after last playing for the club in 2015, before joining Premier Division club South Croydon in ’18.
Tindal is joined by defender and midfielder James Belli (Olinda-Ferny Creek, Outer East league), who brings more than 160 games’ experience having also played at Mooroolbark, while Bloods teammate and ruckman Sean Atkinson has also signed.
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The trio’s inclusion follows the earlier arrival of Eastern league great Leigh Odermatt (South Belgrave), while 2015 best and fairest Jayden Battaglene (Powelltown, Outer East league) and big-bodied midfielder Ryan Mitchell (Yarra Junction, Outer East league) have returned.
Chirnside Park senior coach Dave Newlands said the injection of experience would complement the existing list.
“(Tindal) reached out to one of the old presidents and was keen to come back and finish off his career at Chirnside – we’re looking for him to straighten us up down back and he should be pretty good for us,” he said.
“I coached (Belli) at Mooroolbark … and he’s just moved down Peninsula way, so it’s been easier for him to come back and have a run with us … and Atkinson’s been Olinda’s No. 1 ruckman for a long time and I coached him at Mooroolbark as well when I was there. He’s going to be very handy for us.”
Odermatt joined the Panthers in November following back-to-back flags with South Belgrave in a career which has taken in more than 250 games across the Saints, Heathmont and Coldstream. He’s kicked in excess of 500 goals, won five premierships (twice best afield) and nine Team of the Year honours, twice as captain.
Newlands said Odermatt would combine in attack with forward Scott Dwyer, as the pair look to fill the void left by champion spearhead Daniel ‘Dipper’ Beddome, who has retired.
“He’s taken up a senior assistant role, so he’ll still be around the club which is great,” Newlands said of Beddome.
“Scott Dwyer is going to have a full season – he only played five games with us last year but he’s going to take the forward mantle with Odermatt.
“(Odermatt) hasn’t missed a beat and he’s been really good – the excitement that he brings and the standards has made him really enjoy it as well. He did a run the other night and my God, he’s flying – I didn’t realise how fit he was.”
Advancing deep into the finals is on the coach’s radar.
“We’ve got expectations that a prelim was fantastic but there’s plenty of room for improvement – finals is our main aim but to give ourselves an opportunity to get to that last week,” Newlands said.
Chirnside Park opens its season hosting Scoresby on Saturday, April 1.
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