EFNL 2023: Host of returning guns set to fire Berwick as Bryce Rutherford departs

The Eastern league Premier Division club is set to benefit from a wealth of names returning from injury this season – but it’s waved goodbye to a star.

BERWICK senior coach Clint Evans is confident the return of a host of gun names can help his side climb the ladder and avoid the drop from the Eastern league’s Premier Division this season.

The Wickers finished 11th of the division’s 12 teams in 2022, avoiding relegation by 10 points with a 4-13-1 record.

Evans said the club would regain a host of its names sidelined through injury last season, while defender Will Arthurson has returned full-time after a stint with VFL outfit Frankston.

Livewire forward Harry Money is expected to return early in the campaign after suffering a season-ending ACL injury last June.

“The big thing for us is getting all of our injured players back – last year we played 48 players,” Evans said.

“To have Will Arthurson back full-time is going to be like a new recruit, our ruckman (Jesse Cirulis) missed pretty much the whole year, Tim Gunn missed pretty much the whole year, Harry Money will get back probably Round 5 or 6, Jayden Graham missed half of the year with an ankle.

“We’ve got about seven or eight players who only played minimal games last year … I think we’ve got a bit more depth than what we had last year.”

Defender Will Arthurson returns full-time from Frankston VFL. Picture: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

But the club will be without former captain and star midfielder Bryce Rutherford, who has relocated to the Goulburn Valley for work. He’s also signed to play with Mooroopna.

Evans has emerging talent Ashton Williamson earmarked to fill the void left by the club champion.

“He’s (Rutherford) our reigning best and fairest and a massive loss for us, but that was out of our hands, he didn’t leave about anything he wasn’t happy with it was just work, which we totally understand,” Evans said.

“(Williamson’s) having a really good pre-season, and he’s a little bull. I’m looking at him as going to have a really good year.”

Bryce Rutherford has left the club due to work reasons. Picture: AAP/Chris Eastman

The bottom-two clubs face the chop from the Eastern league’s top division at the end of this season, but Evans is optimistic his group can improve on last year’s result.

“All we can go on is last year and we finished second-bottom with such a young group,” he said.

“It’s unheard of to play 48 guys in one year … the good thing is we gave kids a go so hopefully that experience will help.

“If we get a bit of luck with injuries and can keep our important players fit and keep them on the park, I think we’ll be really competitive.”

Berwick opens its season away to Vermont on April 15.