Calder Cannons bullish about talent ahead of NAB League season

Calder Cannons coach Ross Smith is bullish about the talent at his disposals this season while three father-son prospects are hoping to push their case.

Paul Pascu in action for the Calder Cannons. Picture: Hamish Blair

Calder Cannons coach Ross Smith is bullish about the talent at his disposal this season.

The NAB League club had two players graduate to the AFL – Josh Goater and Zac Taylor – last season and hopes to again showcase the region’s talent.

Paul Pascu looms as a Cannons’ top draft prospect after breaking into the side as a 17-year-old last season and has been named captain for 2022.

The hard-nosed midfielder-defender can win his own ball on the inside as well as deliver with class on the outside and has been identified as a possible first-round pick this season.

Smith was impressed by Pascu’s pre-season and said there were several other talents that deserved attention.

Calder Cannons vice-captain Caleb Burquest. Picture: Michael Klein

“Paul’s the standout and Caleb Burquest has been pretty consistent the last couple of years,” Smith said.

“Will Hubik is coming back from a knee and will need a bit of time but we hope he’ll slot in up forward and be a dominant force, he’s quite a big kid.

“(Luca) Alessio marked the ball really well on the weekend, Tom O’Sullivan, Sam Wilson and Ned Ryan were all pretty good, (Josh) Misiti held his own down back and Reuben Rode was really good off half-back.

“Ryder Rousch has improved enormously and will get us some good support in the ruck.”

Pascu hails from the same junior club, Oak Park, as Adelaide draftee and former Cannons teammate Zac Taylor.

The skipper is the only Cannon currently in the Vic Metro but Smith believes there will be more by the time the Under-19 National Championships roll around.

Burquest, Matthew Foley, Whitnall and Misiti will serve as vice-captains.

What Calder does possess is plenty of famous names.

Josh Misiti in action for Calder Cannons. Picture: Hamish Blair

Calder Cannons’ Dane Whitnall. Picture: Michael Klein

Father-son hopes Luca Alessio and Josh Misiti (Essendon), Dane Whitnall (Carlton) and Jordan Croft (Western Bulldogs) will all be looking to press their claims.

Oskar Balta, brother of Richmond’s premiership star Noah and Ryan Eyre, brother of Essendon’s Josh have also won places on the Cannons’ list.

“Oskar’s the brother of (Noah) but nothing like him,” Smith said.

“He’s very skinny, Oskar, and we’ve got to work out what position is best for him at the moment. I hope he’s got Noah’s speed and engine.

“Ryan is going through his growing pains, similar to what Josh was at that age.

“We’re calling it the Eyre boundary line at the moment because of the amount of ks they’ve done around it, the both of them.

“We’ve got a Croft as well, he’ll be another father-son for the Bulldogs if he comes through.

“Jordan’s been in rehab for a fair bit of the pre-season but had his first hit out on the weekend.”

Amin Naim and Mahmoud Taha are Next Generation Academy inductees at Essendon.

Calder kicks off its NAB League campaign at Highgate Reserve on Saturday when it welcomes the GWS Giants.

Smith was encouraged by the team’s pre-season hit out against Oakleigh.

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“We had a good hitout against Oakleigh, who are probably the benchmark, last week,” he said.

“It was an amazing first half – it was eight goals to seven – but they got hold of us in the second half.

“We just ran out of legs with three blokes on the bench, but we’re pretty bullish about our performance.

“We haven’t got any absolute standouts necessarily but we’ve got a strong, even list and I think we’ll challenge quite a few of the good sides.”

Harrison Andronaco returns to Calder as a 19-year-old. Picture: Michael Klein

CALDER CANNONS

Harrison Andronaco (St Bernard’s)

Matthew Weber (Gisborne)

Caleb Burquest (St Bernard’s)

Matthew Foley (Strathmore)

Shane Clough (Gisborne)

Carlos Egan (Strathmore)

Reuben Rode (Wallan)

Rye Penny (Gisborne)

William Hubik (Keilor)

Sam Valensisi (Strathmore)

Jack Hebbard (Aberfeldie)

Luca Alessio (Strathmore)

Michael Ktona (Aberfeldie)

Hugo Garcia (Ivanhoe)

Kade Mueller (Strathmore)

Joey Dimasi (Aberfeldie)

Harry Rowston (Assumption College)

Jack Newitt (Sunbury)

Flynn Gentile (Airport West)

Tom O’Sullivan (Seymour)

Luke Said (St Bernard’s)

Mitchell Johnson (Rupertswood)

Fraser Phelan-Smith (Rupertswood)

Declan Willmore (Essendon Doutta Stars)

Sam Wilson (Gisborne)

Matthew Gook (Sunbury)

Paul Pascu (Oak Park)

Jamieson Jarvis (Aberfeldie)

Josh Misiti (Aberfeldie)

Logan Johnson (Rupertswood)

Matthew Pellegrino (Strathmore)

Ryan Eyre (Kilmore)

Ned Ryan (Maribyrnong Park)

Dane Whitnall (Craigieburn)

Ayui Makieng (Flemington)

Charles Bolmat (Pascoe Vale)

Maison Goodman (Ivanhoe)

Tom Lowrie (St Bernard’s)

Harry Johnston (Strathmore)

Ryder Rousch (Sunbury)

Amin Naim (Strathmore)

Mahmoud Taha (Pascoe Vale)

Corey Barbaro (Aberfeldie)

Blair Huggins (Lancefield)

Spencer Jones (Gisborne)

Mua Tavo (Hillside)

Lachlan Urbon (Sunbury)

Will O’Dwyer-Richards (Seymour)

Oskar Balta (Essendon Doutta Stars)

Jordan Croft (Maribyrnong Park)

Gabriel Banova (Brunswick)

Isaac Cullen (Airport West)