MPNFL: Hastings coach gets to work on season 2021
New Hastings coach Clint Einsiedel has had a productive first week in the job, working on the Blues’ list for 2021 — but will a star forward remain?
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Hastings star forward Todd Elton is yet to re-commit to the Blues for 2021 as speculation grows that he may play elsewhere next season.
New Blues coach Clint Einsiedel has spoken to most of the playing group in the past week but is yet to touch base with former Richmond player Elton.
“I haven’t spoken to Todd as yet, (I’ve) left a couple of messages with him,’’ Einsiedel said.
“I’m waiting for him to call me back. Just watch this space with him.’’
Elton joined Hastings last season and played 14 games, kicking 16 goals and being in the best players on four occasions.
Einsiedel said he’s spent his first week as Hastings coach focusing on the existing squad and “trying to get them all locked away’’.
As far as recruits go, he said he was “talking to a few’’ but it was “early days’’.
“It’s too early to know what we need,’’ he said.
“Until we work out what we’ve got at our disposal from the existing guys it’s hard to exactly identity what we need but definitely…I would say the midfield would be an area we need to fix up and probably a forward or two.’’
Einsiedel arrived at Hastings after coaching stints at Springvale Districts, Heatherton and Trafalgar (including a premiership in 2018).
He said he’s received plenty of support from Hastings players, staff and supporters since be unveiled as senior coach.
“I’ve had a chat to quite a few people…a lot of people internal to the club which has been good, I’ve had good backing there,’’ he said.
“To be fair the response I’ve had from the existing playing group has been really good. Excellent in fact.
“They’re a pretty loyal bunch of blokes I think so I don’t think we’ll have too much trouble being able to keep them together and then just add a few pieces and see how we go.’’
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