Local Footy: Rosebud signs Nick Batsanis
Rosebud’s bid for the MPNFL Division 1 premiership has received a boost with a decorated Eastern Football Netball League premiership star putting pen to paper.
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Batsi’s a Bud.
Doncaster East premiership captain Nick Batsanis said he’s looking forward to new challenges after signing with Mornington Peninsula Division 1 club Rosebud, as playing assistant coach.
The 28-year-old said the move would take him out of his “comfort zone’’ after a decorated career in the EFNL — including back-to-back premierships and multiple team of the year honours.
“I thought it would be a good idea to get down and see a different perspective in how Rosebud footy club go about it seeing I’ve been at Donny East the last six or seven years under Bucksy (coach Steve Buckle) — he’s been unbelievable to me, and the footy club — but I wanted to see it from another point of view,’’ Batsanis said.
“Donny East is great, I’ve had plenty of good times down there, but I want to see it from a different angle now in a different league, see how the footy club operates and how Jewellsy coaches.’’
Batsanis has been one of the EFNL’s top midfielders, renowned for going forward and kicking clutch goals.
He was a member of the EFNL team of the year in 2016, was named captain of it in ’17, played in East Doncaster’s 2018-19 premierships and captained the club from 2016-19.
Rosebud coach Nick Jewell said Batsanis’ signing was “big’’ for the Buds, who are on the rise after narrowly missing finals last year.
“Especially being a premiership captain, he will be super for us with his on-field leadership,’’ Jewell said.
“Eastern footy league is very strong and Doncaster East have had a lot of AFL players recently — Brock McLean, Sam White — so he’s coming from a terrific program and he’s been captain of that bunch.’’
Jewell said Batsanis’ would add class in the middle and up forward.
“The last two season I think he has kicked 25 and 26 goals resting forward when he hasn’t been in the midfield,’’ Jewell said.
“It gives us the opportunity to now have either (Sean) Downie or (Rob) Forrest on ball, (Greg) Bentley and Batsanis resting forward, or vice versa, and then you’ve got (Reid) Nanscawen, (Jai) Hardwick and Fletcher Hustwaite rotating through there as well, so at any stage we can have two of those A graders in there and two of them forward making us a bit more dangerous up forward,’’ he said.
“We did that last year but we just didn’t have that depth through the midfield, so he certainly gives us that.’’
Batsanis said Rosebud’s young and talented group reminds him of Doncaster East’s list of two years ago.
“I feel that group is in the same position as we were going into that 2018-19 period when we went back to back at Donny East,’’ he said.
“It’s a young list, they’re quick, they’re promising, I feel like they’re in a really good position to contend next year and the year after.’’
Batsanis said he’s watched MPNFL games and is looking forward to a new style of play.
“I’ve watched a few games here and there. I do like the fact they are wide open grounds and it’s not as congested as what local footy is down at Eastern footy league,’’ he said.
“There is plenty of space to find some footy and create some opportunities for the boys up forward.’’
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