Local footy: WRFL club Sunshine locks in five signings for 2021

Sunshine has move quickly to bolster its list ahead of Heath Scotland’s first season at the helm of the WRFL club.

Young VFL midfielder Tom Mundy has linked up with Sunshine as an aligned player. Picture: Michael Klein

Sunshine has locked in five signings for next season – and the Western Region Football League outfit is not done yet.

The Kangaroos came agonisingly close to claiming the Division 1 premiership in 2017 but have since missed finals in consecutive years after waving goodbye to several key players.

But keen to make amends and return to the top half of the ladder, Sunshine has wasted no time strengthening its list ahead of Heath Scotland’s first season at the helm.

“We understand we have deficiencies in a few areas,” committeeman Mark Grech said.

“We are trying to fix those deficiencies and, having appointed Heath, we’ve had some players who have been at the club over the last few years approaching us about coming back.

“We’re only part way through a process at the moment.

“Obviously we’re happy with what we’ve (recruited), but we are speaking with a number of players.”

Heath Scotland has taken over the top job at Sunshine. Picture: Supplied

The Kangaroos have secured the services of VFL-listed midfielder Tom Mundy, who featured in Williamstown’s grand final side last year as the 23rd player.

He made eight senior appearances for the Seagulls in 2019 and eight for Altona after making the move from Tasmania.

“We’re stoked about him joining us,” Grech said.

“Wherever that leads to, it leads to, whether it’s (playing for Sunshine) next year or into the future.

“He had relationships with a few people who we had on our selection committee for the coach. We approached him about the possibility of coming over, had a few meetings and he decided to make the move.”

Belal Abou-Eid has returned to bolster the defence after crossing to Essendon District league side Westmeadows for the 2020 campaign.

Abou-Eid has been a mainstay in the senior line-up, playing 74 games in the past four seasons.

Brenton Quinn is also back after a stint at West Footscray and will add depth in the middle of the ground.

Jarryd Scotland – Heath’s nephew – has crossed from Wyndhamvale and is a best-and-fairest winner at AFL Outer East club Thornton-Eildon, while Jay Gorman has arrived from Thornton-Eildon. The pair will boost the on-ball division.

Fabian Brancatisano (East Keilor) is the only confirmed departure of note, and Grech said Scotland was enthused by Sunshine’s stable of young players.

“Heath took on the role knowing we’ve got younger players that need to be developed and given opportunities,” he said.

“That was what he was excited about – the fact our group is young and coachable … and something he can mould over the next three, four, five years.”

Grech said Scotland’s arrival had created a “big buzz”.

The 40-year-old was let go by North Melbourne earlier this year after a 12-month stint as a development coach, a victim of the soft-cap cuts amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Scotland, who replaced Adam Contessa, is a proven coach at local level.

He steered Ballarat league outfit and junior club Darley to finals in each of his three seasons at the helm and led it to a premiership in his first year in 2017.

“We kicked off training last night (Wednesday) and had big numbers,” Grech said.

“There was some really positive feedback from the group after training on Heath’s approach, his accessibility.”