EFNL 2024: ‘Maintain the rage’: How Boronia is shaping for Division 2 flag defence
Boronia is under no illusion its hunt for a second consecutive flag will be a tough one, while high hopes surround a pair of gun signings.
Eastern
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HIGH hopes surround a pair of gun signings at Boronia as it readies for its Division 2 premiership defence.
The Hawks lost just once on the way to a second flag in five years last season, capping a 13th win in a row with a 32-point defeat of Heathmont in the grand final.
Boronia senior coach Matt Clark said the club had sought to build depth through is key position stocks this off-season.
Liam Whelan (Tyntynder, Central Murray league) and Tom Sonsie (South Belgrave) have arrived as part of a “tactical” recruiting approach.
“We haven’t gone out aggressively recruiting,” Clark said.
“We identified some future proofing for our key forward positions and I think both of them fit the bill really nicely.”
Whelan, a former VFL North Melbourne and Coburg tall, also previously plied his trade for East Ringwood and Aquinas, along with a stint at the Darwin Buffaloes in the NTFL.
Clark said the 194cm talent, who linked with the club through work connections, could form a “critical” part of the Hawks’ attack.
“He’s six-foot-four and a really mobile forward who’s played at a higher level … he’s super fit and really covers the ground well, almost like a midfielder,” he said.
“With his height and strong hands, we think he’s going to be a critical asset to our forward line but (we also have) the ability to throw him into the ruck at times and any key position.”
Sonsie will hunt regular senior opportunities after topping the goalkicking at Scoresby in 2019 and ’21 before shifting to South Belgrave the following year.
“He can play,” Clark said.
“He’s got great skills and reads the game really well so he’s a really good addition of a taller marking key forward.”
Meanwhile, the Hawks will welcome the return of midfielder Haydn Stanley who missed the second half of last year through travel.
“He was in the top-three in our best and fairest at that stage and he’s a key midfielder for us,” Clark said.
Division 2 adds two new sides this season, with Croydon and Lilydale relegated from Division 1 at the end of last year.
Clark is under no illusion his side has its work cut out to repeat last season’s success, but he’s confident his charges have prepared with purpose.
“They’re hungry – the way they’ve hit training, I’m really pleased with the condition they’re all in, the way we’ve approached night one of pre-season to focus on this year and keep the same aggressive attitude week by week has been good,” he said.
“We expect that every game’s going to be really tough this year and if anyone’s off half a per cent, it’s going to show up on the scoreboard.
“We’re excited by a couple of new sides coming in and how we maintain the rage.”
Boronia opens its season away to Lilydale on April 6.
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