NFL 2019: Greensborough hopes for better run with injury

GREENSBOROUGH hopes to consign its wretched run with injury to the history books and mount a premiership challenge next year.

Key recruit Charlie Molyneux showed glimpses of his best in eight games this year. Picture: Nathan McNeill.

GREENSBOROUGH hopes to consign its wretched run with injury to the history books and mount a premiership challenge next year.

Long-term injuries robbed the Boro of several key personnel in the Northern Football League this season, with Dan McLinden (10 games), Brody Tickell (10), Charlie Molyneux (eight) and Mitch Merkel (four) among those sidelined for most of the campaign.

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Only four Greensborough players featured in all 19 matches as the club called on 41 players for senior duties.

“That will make a big difference,” coach Mick Harford said.

“Then you bring in a bit of additional quality, which we will do.

“We’re looking forward to what next season brings and we are confident we will be in and around the mark.”

The addition of slick on-baller Ben Fennell from Montmorency will add class in midfield, with a ruckman and key forward identified as other recruiting priorities.

Mitch Merkel’s impact was limited by injury this year. Picture: Richard Serong

Fennell is expected to form a dynamic partnership with Molyneux, who Harford believes will be a “real positive” after a limited pre-season heading into his debut campaign.

“I am looking forward to seeing what he has got,” he said. “Some of the stuff we saw from him with a limited preparation, when he came back toward the end of the season, he was fantastic.”

Greensborough will regain ruckman Jake McNamara from a knee injury, while Merkel and Tickell bolster the club’s attack.

“Brody is a genuine goalkicker and Mitch has shown he can do it at that level,” Harford said.

The Boro finished fifth in Division 1 this year before losing an elimination final against Bundoora.

Harford said the finals finish was testament to Greensborough’s depth.

“We played in excess of 40 players this year. That’s too many,” he said.

“We’d like to play 32, plus four for weeks (with) the under-19 23rd man (rule).”

He said the club’s game plan would be tweaked to “match a bit closer to what our list can do” as it eyes its first flag since 2014.

“It’s not broken, so we don’t have to fix it. But it always needs to be improved,” Harford said.

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