NFL 2019: Leigh Judd elected Epping captain for Division 2 season
Tough on-baller Leigh Judd will lead Epping’s pursuit of its first Division 2 finals appearance since its premiership campaign of 2012.
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Tough on-baller Leigh Judd will lead Epping’s pursuit of its first Division 2 finals appearance since its premiership campaign of 2012.
Judd has been elected as the Pingers captain for 2019, replacing Josh Stavely who will serve as a vice-captain alongside defender Reed Jepson.
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“He’s like a young Josh Stavely in a lot of senses,” Epping coach Aaron Johnson said of Judd.
“His attack on the footy, his footy brain (is strong) and he’s played a bit of juniors there as well.”
Johnson said Judd, who has played more than 50 senior games for the club, had been “driving the playing group”.
Stavely has stepped down due to increased family commitments after the birth of his third child.
Johnson, who has replaced Greg Whitcroft as the Pingers coach, said Judd “ticked all the boxes”.
Epping finished sixth in the Northern Football League second tier last year after accepting a late invitation to replace Lalor when it requested relegation to Division 3 after a player exodus.
The club hopes to bolster its playing stocks in coming weeks and has so far signed key-position player Tom Burnside (East Sunbury).
The former Calder Cannons tall kicked 34 goals from 15 games in 2017 in EDFL Division 2 but only played four games last season.
His arrival will somewhat help offset the loss of leading goalkicker Damon Marcon, who has joined Division 1 club Greensborough after logging 39 goals from 18 games in 2018.
“We have got some other players we can throw forward to replace Damon,” Johnson said.
“A good spread of five or six guys kicking 20-25 goals, it really stretches opposition defences with who they are going to go to.”
Johnson said key forward Chris Chilcott had shed about 10kg and was primed to lead the club’s attack, adding Burnside, Alec Buchan, Jaedyn Kearney and Stavely would provide variety to stretch opposition defences.
“I think as a club, they probably thought they overachieved winning the six games they won last year,” Johnson said.
“If you win six games and you get an extra four, there’s 10 games.
“10 games usually gets you close to playing finals footy.
“Finals always should be a goal. Anywhere from six to 10 wins would be a big positive for us with a young group.”
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