Lower Plenty coach Phil Plunkett discusses his clubs plans for 2023 amid list changes
Lower Plenty has seen a host of senior players depart over the summer but coach Phil Plunkett is adamant his club will remain a finals force.
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Lower Plenty coach Phil Plunkett is adamant expectations won’t change despite a host of key departures this summer.
The Bears, coming off a straight sets NFL Division 2 finals exit last season, will field a vastly different team in 2023.
Reigning league and club best-and-fairest Darcy Barden has crossed to Macleod, along with brother Billy, while 2021 league medallist Tom Keays has jumped to Division 2 rival Panton Hill.
Corey Sleep and Ben Paterson have joined neighbours Montmorency and James Elliott moved to Eastern club Blackburn.
Despite the loss of experience talent, Plunkett remains upbeat about his team’s potential.
“There’s been a bit of change but the kids are excited and keen to learn,” he said.
“We’re going to miss all these great players who have moved on but it presents opportunities for others to put their hand up.
“It was one of those ones, a couple of boys wanted to play Div 1 before it was too late.
“You can never knock that, they go with our blessing, and much as you hate to see the kids leave you’ve got to do what’s best for them.
“It doesn’t change (expectations), you can ask that of any coach at this time of year – we want to play in Division 1 and we want to play in the grand final but our first goal is finals.
“My expectation of the group is we’re preparing to play finals, we’re putting in the work to try and deliver that.”
Plunkett said the club still had several irons in the fire ahead of Round 1.
“We’re still on the hunt, we’re always looking to get good people in,” he said.
“We’re waiting to see how a few things unfold.”
Lower Plenty has welcomed Riley Alexander from VAFA Division 4 outfit LaTrobe.
Alexander was a class above in 2022 as LaTrobe won the premiership, winning the club best-and-fairest and booting 77 majors to claim the league goalkicking award.
He was also named captain and centre half-forward in the Team of the Year and finished third in the VAFA Rising Star award.
Alexander will join some promising young talents at Montmorency Oval with a quartet of Northern Knights hopefuls catching Plunkett’s eye.
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Felix Bell, Nathan Taphael, Jed Wallace and Hudson Young are training with the NAB League club but will be given every chance to push their case if sent back to the Bears.
“If they do miss out (at the Knights) we’re going to play them in the seniors and hopefully that exposure will fast-track them back to the Knights,” Plunkett said.
Lower will tackle Eastern club Templestowe and Western Region outfit Sunshine in practice matches and tackle Montmorency in the annual Patterson Shield pre-season clash.
The Bears will open their Division 2 campaign with a trip to last season’s surprise-packet Watsonia, looking to turn the tables after an upset loss to the Saints in Round 1 last year.
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