NFL 2018: Watsonia signs ex-Sydney Swan Tyrone Leonardis as aligned player
WATSONIA has trumpeted the signing of a former Sydney Swan as it strives to climb the Division 2 ladder under new coach George Lattouf next year.
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WATSONIA has trumpeted the signing of former Sydney Swan Tyrone Leonardis after securing the North Melbourne VFL-listed defender as an aligned player for 2019.
The Saints are hopeful Leonardis’ top-level experience will prove beneficial for their developing list, although the 21-year-old is unlikely to feature regularly in the Northern Football League.
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Leonardis, who was taken at pick no. 51 in the 2015 AFL draft, was aligned with Montmorency this year but only played four times.
New Watsonia coach George Lattouf said Leonardis’ signing was a huge tick of approval for the club’s direction.
“When there’s an opportunity to come back and play at his local club Watsonia, we’ll open our arms to him. We’re very excited he chose us,” Lattouf said.
Leonardis averaged 13.2 disposals in his debut VFL season at Arden Street and has been described as a “super exciting player” by Roos coach David Loader.
“He was encouraged by looking at our journey as a football club and what we are going to be doing,” Lattouf said.
“He wanted to play with some of his mates at our club too.”
The Saints finished bottom of the Division 2 ladder this year with a 1-17 record and have since replaced former coach Jarrad Carey, who stood down, with West Preston-Lakeside assistant Lattouf.
“It’s going to be a very competitive Division 2 next year,” he said.
“We want to compete with every team in that comp and we want to play a very good team brand of football.
“We’re going to work very hard over the summer.”
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Lattouf said the club had targeted recruits to bolster its on-ball brigade and hopes to have them on board before launching into a pre-season campaign he knows could define his first year in charge at A.K Lines Reserve.
“We just want to bond together as a football club,” he said.
“The wins will come as long as we work hard together, which is the most important part of my role as a mentor at the club.
“If we get five wins, 10 wins, fantastic. But I am looking more at the future of the footy club and the development of the young players.”
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