How Watsonia is shaping up ahead of NFNL Division 2 season

Watsonia is looking to build on last season’s breakthrough campaign but will be without two Team of the Year guns. How will the Saints fare?

Ben Callaghan in action for Watsonia. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Where are the goals going to come from for Watsonia in 2023?

The Saints will have to replace Kyle Wheatley this season as they look to build on last season’s successes in NFNL Division 2.

Wheatley booted 43 goals in 2022, finishing fifth in the league goalkicking and earning Team of the Year honours.

James Lucente will have a bigger role to play after booting 36 majors last season, while Jamie Presser (24), Daniel Annetta (17) and Charbel Khoury (14) will also be asked to step up.

Watsonia has also recruited for need, bringing in last season’s Division 1 reserves leading goalkicker Blake Charles from Montmorency.

George Lattouf speaks to his Watsonia players. Picture: Stuart Milligan

Charles will be joined by brother Darcy as well Magpies reserves teammate and best-and-fairest winner Mitch Brownhill.

Saints coach George Lattouf was confident his attack would be more diverse and more dangerous.

“We’re very proud of Wheats, going down to Bundoora, we wish him all the best,” Lattouf said.

“There’s a lot of depth (in the forward line), we’ve got several blokes that can jump in there.

“We’ve picked up a couple of replacements, we identified that as an area we needed.

“We’ve picked up a couple of guys from Division 1, Mitch Brownhill played at Montmorency, young kid, midfielder, and he’s fitted in really well.

“Another bloke from Montmorency is Blake Charles, a key forward, he and his brother have joined and they’ve fitted in beautifully as well.”

Montmorency Division 1 Under-19 premiership players Lachlan Bowden and experienced ruckman Lucas Vasilevski (Mernda) have also arrived.

Wheatley isn’t the only key departure with fellow Team of the Year player Lachie Potter moving to South Morang.

The Saints will be looking to build on last year’s eight-win season that saw them in finals calculations until the final game of the season

The club finished seventh, just two points outside the top-five, beating finalists Lower Plenty and Thomastown.

Watsonia also enjoyed success in the under-19s, capturing the Division 3 premiership with Nick Lawson finishing runner-up in the league medal.

Strong practice match performances against Glenroy, which was relegated from EDFL Premier Division last season, and WRFL club West Footscray have the club ready for Round 1.

The Saints will host Lower Plenty at Binnak Park on April 15 before travelling to predicted big improver Panton Hill in Round 2.

Lattouf hopes those successes can lead to greater things in 2023.

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“There’s a lot of growth at the club at the moment, which is fantastic,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to the challenge (this season).

“(Round 1) is going to be a cracking game between two young sides, we’ve got a lot of respect for Lower Plenty.”

Watsonia will also have new a new captain this season after Ben Sutherland handed over the reins.

The leadership group will be officially announced before the season-opener.