Local footy: Woodend-Hesket signs Josh Pound for 2021 RDFL season
Riddell District Football League outfit Woodend-Hesket has secured a former VFL-listed player for 2021 as coach Ben Tankard gives an update on the Hawks’ senior list.
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Woodend-Hesket’s hopes of climbing the Riddell District Football League ladder have received a sizeable boost with the classy Josh Pound signing on.
The forward/midfielder had booted 95 goals for Essendon District league power Aberfeldie in the past three seasons, including 42 in 2018 as he was named in the Premier Division Team of the Year.
Pound is a two-time premiership player at Abers and also had a stint at Broadford, where he achieved Team of the Year nods in consecutive seasons.
He was set to play at PEGS in 2020 under his brother Dane, who has since stepped down.
Pound’s friendship with Hawks skipper Alistair Rae proved crucial in securing his signature.
“The club’s really excited to have a player of his quality,” Woodend-Hesket coach Ben Tankard said.
“He’s 30 years old, so he was looking to step down a bit from EDFL Premier and obviously he was going to play under his brother at PEGS. Now that hasn’t worked out, he was looking elsewhere.
“I’ve known Josh for quite a long time too, and there were a couple of other friends that he knew at Woodend. He just decided it was a good fit.
“We still think he’s got quite a few years left in the Riddell District.”
Tankard said Pound would add valuable leadership after the Hawks finished eighth with five victories in 2019.
Pound also has experience Coburg and Broadbeach in the state league ranks and has represented the RDFL’s interleague team.
“When I took over at the end of 2019, that was one of the things we identified straight away – anyone we brought into the club was going to have to be able to drive standards,” Tankard said.
“They’d have to lead, come from higher competitions or (having played under) good coaches or played in premierships.
“Josh ticks all those boxes. He’ll basically be an on-field assistant where he can help organise and bring some young players along for us.”
Since the end of the 2019 season, Woodend-Hesket has signed gun midfielder Wayne Patak from Spotswood, while James Vistarini, Rory Alexander and Nick Franzi crossed from Taylors Lakes.
Aaron French joined from East Malvern, while Blake Laverie and Charlie Mathieson returned to the club.
“We expect we’ll retain every player, add Josh Pound, and we think we’ll add one more,” Tankard said.
“From the last game played in 2019 to Round 1 2021, we’re probably looking at seven or eight new players in our senior team.”
Tankard said the Hawks were building to compete with the competition’s best sides after an 11-year finals drought.
“We’re not talking about ladder positions or finals or anything like that, we want to be competitive straight away and make sure we avoid the blowouts Woodend have had in the past against the top sides,” he said.
“Once you’re competitive, if you win those games, you can start aiming a bit higher.
“But that’s my first aim, to make sure every week we rock up at the footy we’re in a position to win a game.”
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