Ivanhoe coach Wayne Schultz details off-season recruiting plans, Ash Close’s availability

Ivanhoe coach Wayne Schultz details his club’s off-season recruiting plans after joining the Northern league as well as he and Ash Close’s availability.

Ivanhoe coach Wayne Schultz. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Ivanhoe has a clear recruiting strategy as it enters the Northern Football Netball League.

The Hoers are looking to lure Ivanhoe Juniors players back into the black and white for 2024 and beyond.

Ivanhoe Juniors have graduated some of elite talent including Collingwood premiership captain Darcy Moore Richmond father-son Patrick Naish, local stars Lachie Wilson and Jesse Tardio and even NFL player Adam Gotsis.

Ivanhoe coach Wayne Schultz said the plan was simple.

“The recruitment strategy for the club, the Ivanhoe Junior Football Club is an incredible program,”.

“Part of our process was creating the opportunity for Ivanhoe juniors to come back and play senior footy.”

The club has had some early success, signing the likes of Heidelberg reserve grade premiership player Kane Veliou and key position prospects Jamie Lay (Kew) and Sam Aanensen (Lancaster).

Ivanhoe hopes as it cements its place in the new league it can be a more direct pathway to senior football, while also luring more junior talent back to the club.

It played a key role in the club’s decision to leave the VAFA was sustainability and player retention.

“That unknown with staying in the VAFA, one area was player retention,” Schultz said.

“After the flag we lost a few players and had a few retire as well and therefore that’s been a sticking point for us.

“Step one was retaining our list and we’ve done that, which is a positive, and we’ve got a lot of our Thirds players engaged, which is a great result.

“We’ve had great energy at the club, winning our first senior flag for 53 years last year and even this year with a longer year, not hearing the song as often as we’d like, the energy is still there.

“All of a sudden we’re entering a new chapter for the club, the light is shining bright, and that’s a credit to everyone at the club.”

As well as the Northern league, Ivanhoe will also be keeping a close eye on the Coates Talent League fixture.

Premiership coach and star forward Ash Close has been appointed the Oakleigh Chargers Boys head coach, which could limit his involvement in 2024.

However, Schultz is confident whether he’s on the field or not Close will still have an impact.

“We hope not (to lose him) and like everyone we’re just waiting for the fixture in the under-18s to come out,” Schultz said.

“Ash has been a superhero with our program, he’s done an enormous job in getting us the success we have.

“His commitments with Collingwood and then Eastern and now Oakleigh, nothing changes with that, we understand his focus has got to be at Oakleigh Chargers.

“And we’ve got to be respectful to Ash’s life balance as well, that’s really important, but if he can work us in he’s an outstanding leader and great asset to our team.”

Meanwhile, Schultz himself is hoping to play a little less next season.

The evergreen veteran played 17 senior games this year, earning a mention in the best in 14, underlining his important to the team.

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However, he’s ready to manage his workload.

“The boots certainly aren’t hung up but I will admit I’m hoping we don’t have the injuries we had this year because I played overs,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to managing myself properly, respecting where my age is at and my body, so there’ll be games I’ll slot in and weeks “I’ll coaching from the sidelines and leave it to the younger brigade.

“We’ll find that happy medium and ensure I get through the season and don’t play too many and start to question myself and ask if I can go around again.”