NFL 2019: Diamond Creek builds for tilt at Division 2 finals return
DIAMOND Creek has enhanced its chances of an immediate return to Northern Football League finals with a trio of quality signings.
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DIAMOND Creek has enhanced its chances of an immediate return to Northern Football League finals with a trio of quality signings.
The Creekers have announced the arrival of Benalla pair Tom Bennett and James Marchbank and former Northern Knights player Oliver Stapleton (Heidelberg).
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Bennett and Stapleton will add class across halfback and in midfield, while Marchbank has been slated for a key defensive role.
“As disappointed as we were not to make finals we have been able to focus and get our house in order,” coach Craig Hayes said.
“Disappointing not to be playing finals for sure and we are really, truly disappointed about that. It’s probably sharpened our focus a little bit.”
Bennett has been a senior regular in the Goulburn Valley league and featured in Benalla’s 2015 grand final victory.
“He’s a quality halfback/midfielder that will give us some really good run and give us a little bit more depth through the mids, which is something we needed to address,” Hayes said.
“Pretty clean on the outside. From what people have told me he’s very strong at the football as well.”
Hayes said Marchbank, the brother of Creekers ruckman Josh, was a versatile tall.
“(It) will allow us to let Jai Norman play centre half forward without having to stints in the ruck,” he said.
“We needed to get that extra tall defender to take a little bit off our young backline.
“James will be fantastic in that role.”
Stapleton, who played five senior games in Division 1 for Heidelberg and featured prominently in the club’s under-19 premiership, has been on Diamond Creek’s radar for several months.
“Ollie is a lad with really genuine pace around the contest. We were very keen to get Ollie from about the middle of (this) year,” Hayes said.
Dion Fleming’s return will add further depth to the Creekers senior squad.
Tim Chapman and the retiring Jedd McQueen are the only players who have moved on.
Hayes said key forward Jess Cosaitis was continuing his recovery from a serious leg injury but would not feature during 2019.
Diamond Creek missed out on Division 2 finals by 1.33 per cent after finishing equal with Thomastown at 11-7 this year.
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