Fitzroy Stars look to bounce back from relegation, add much-needed experience
Relegated to NFNL Division 3 for the first time, Fitzroy Stars have recruited much-needed experience and height as they look to bounce back up.
Northern
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Confidence will be key for Fitzroy Stars as it embarks of a maiden NFNL Division 3 season in 2023.
The Stars endured a difficult two years coming out of COVID, winning just one game in 2021 and going winless last season as they were relegated back to the bottom tier for the first time.
However, a new season, new competition and new challenge has brought a positive feeling to Sir Doug Nicholls Oval.
The club is looking to start the campaign strongly with games against Lalor and Heidelberg West before the first big test against Old Eltham Collegians in Round 3.
Coach Lionel Proctor knows morale and momentum will be critical.
“There’s no guarantees but we’re looking to get off to a strong start,” he said.
“We want to get the confidence up early with some strong wins and hopefully it will flow on from there.
“It’s been a while since we had a win in the regular season but if we can get a couple early then we can get everyone feeling good about themselves.
“We know there’s going to be some stiff competition but the way we’ve been training and the way pre-season has been going, we’re confident our best footy is up there.
“We’ve got a lot of experience back, guys like Jai Burns, Peter Hood, Al Norris and a new fella that’s come across, Marlion Pickett’s brother, Tyson. He’s a really powerful midfield-forward and we’re really excited by what he can do this year.”
Coming off a premiership with Yallourn in the North Gippsland league, ruckman Allan Norris is a massive boost to the Stars’ ambitions, while Corey Wanganeen earned Team of the Year honours in the Kyabram District league with Girgarre.
Experienced pair Peter Hood and Jai Burns, who was among Bundoora’s best in last season’s Division 1 grand final, return to try and help their club bounce straight back up to Division 2.
Anthony Walker (Tallygaroopna), Rex Taylor (Girgarre), Raman Winmar (Rumbalara), Michael Graham (Sandgate, AFL Queensland) and his nephew Djarran (West Preston-Lakeside) and Northcote Park trio Kaelun Brown, Gordon Bamblett and Luke McKeown are among the other key recruits.
Riley Livingstone (Panton Hill), Ash Hood (Thomastown), Jamaica Ilsley (Maribyrnong Park) and Djaran Murray-Jackson (Parkside) are major departures.
Proctor is confident his squad can cover the loss of leading goalkicker Livingstone with an influx of height.
“We’ll play to our strength, which is speed, but we were able to get a bit of height back as well,” he said.
“We’ve always been a short team but having that extra height will certainly help, especially through the middle.
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“Corey (Wanganeen) is a similar player (to Livingstone) and another guy that’s come back to us is Michael Graham.
“We’ve got guys that can play that long target role, we’ve never really had that, because we had to move Riley around a fair bit and he played a lot of ruck last year.
“To have a traditional ruck in Al Norris – and Michael can play that role as well – and to have a tall target will help bring our small forwards into it as well.”
Fitzroy Stars played West Brunswick in a practice match on the weekend and will play a Defence Force team and Albion before hosting Lalor in Round 1.
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