EFNL 2023: Noble Park bullish on flag defence despite loss of Shane McDonald
A champion name is set to miss the season for Noble Park, but the coach remains upbeat about the Bulls’ flag defence.
Eastern
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NOBLE PARK will be without one of its star recruits this season – but senior coach Steve Hughes is confident his charges can continue to set the standard in the Eastern league’s top flight.
Decorated signing Shane McDonald will miss the campaign after suffering an ACL injury in the club’s second practice match late last month.
The eight-time best and fairest made the move to the Bulls from Bonbeach in October, linking up with former coach Hughes in pursuit of a premiership.
“He’s done his ACL and some other damage in there as well, so it’s pretty upsetting and we were pretty flat for a while there,” Hughes said.
“I found myself shaking my head all week about it, particularly on the back of the pre-season that he’d had … he was best-on-ground in the first (practice match).
“It was more of a collision injury than a twist or a turn – wrong place, wrong time.”
Hughes remains hopeful on a future return for the 36-year-old.
“I hope so, I’m letting him take a breath and there’s no rush for him to decide,” he said.
“He demonstrated just in that one practice match where he was far and away best on ground and in a lot of the match-sim that we’ve been doing that he was in for a great year.
“He was the fittest I’d seen him and I’d coached him for five years previously … I hope he does (return) and there’s definitely more to give.”
Despite the loss, Hughes declared his group was ready to defend its Premier Division crown.
“I know we’re fit – that’s one thing where we’ve really ticked the box,” he said.
“I don’t think we’ve finished a practice match with more than one player on the bench, but we’ve outscored the opposition in every one.
“Our practice match form has been pretty solid … we haven’t had all of the best (players) play together on any given week but most have demonstrated they’re in pretty good nick and form.
“Playing two Premier (VAFA) sides who are pretty professional with their own pre-seasons, I think it’s a good measuring stick.”
But the coach stopped short of pencilling in nine-time club champion Kyle Martin for a full season, while lauding on-baller Jackson Sketcher as “raring to go” and classy right-footer Lachlan McDonnell as having “an outstanding pre-season”.
“Kyle’s had a little bit of trouble with his body throughout pre-season but he’s been doing everything he can – I don’t think he’ll play 18 games this year because he plays a brand of football that’s quite combative,” Hughes said.
The Bulls host Rowville to start their campaign after the pair met in the 2022 decider, with Saturday’s grand final rematch setting the scene for an opening month featuring dates with three of last year’s finalists.
Hughes said the appetite had only built to repeat last September’s feat.
“We’re incredibly proud of what we achieved, but it’s in the books now,” he said.
“It’s a new season and we’ve got a hunger to build again after getting a taste of it … this Saturday can’t come around quick enough.”
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