Local footy: How EDFL club Northern Saints plans to rebound
After losing several top-line players following the 2019 campaign, EDFL Division 2 club Northern Saints are confident they are in a strong position as they start preparations for next season.
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Northern Saints president Joe Antonetti denies the Essendon District Football League outfit is embarking on a new era.
He instead described it as a “stabilisation process”.
The Saints waved goodbye to several key players after the 2019 campaign, including Tamer Abdlallah, Eliot Kako, Jake McSwain, Mark Sabatino, Brad Dick and Matthew D’Angelo.
There was also a change of coach, with Peter Lohner taking over at the Division 2 club.
But while Lohner is yet to lead the Saints in an official senior fixture due to the coronavirus crisis, he has received an early tick from the playing group.
“It was disappointing (to lose players) the pre-season before,” Antonetti said.
“But the guys who did the pre-season that just passed were all really excited about what was happening and wanted to just continue that momentum.
“No one showed any signs of discontent and wanting to leave. It’s just a matter of time before we get around to everyone and lock them in.”
In a potential boost, Antonetti said some players who had departed were considering returning.
The Saints are certain Lohner is the right man to guide the club through an uncertain period.
He steered its under-19 side to finals in 2018 and 2019 before being promoted to the top job and has more than two decades of coaching experience.
“(Lohner is) a local homegrown coach and just someone who knows these kids. He’s coached pretty much all of them in under-19s and he’s familiar with them, and they’re familiar with him,” Antonetti said.
“People that get to know him and work with him see that he’s got the right approach.
“He’s been really good the whole way through. He’s been calm and positive.
“He’s really looking to mentor and nurture these guys, and not only teach them about footy but teach them how to become leaders and just better people.”
While externally the Saints are not expected to threaten the competition’s top sides in 2021, Antonetti stopped short of conceding they needed to spend a period in the bottom half of the ladder while rebuilding.
They finished one game outside the top four last year after claiming the minor premiership in 2018.
“We were all a little bit excited (for the 2020 season) because these are kids who have been playing together,” Antonetti said.
“These boys love each other, have played with each other for so long, so what better way to cap that off than play seniors together and hopefully win a flag some day?
“You never know what other clubs are doing, you’re more focused on yourself. I think if you’re a loyal supporter, you think you can win every game … and we feel the same. On our day, I don’t think there’s a team we should be scared of.
“Probably being that little bit young, we’re going to have those games where maybe just a bit more experience would be handy, but I think we see it as an exciting time. These are the kids that can take us to that next level.”
Antonetti said recruiting efforts would ramp up when coronavirus restrictions eased.
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