Mick Harford comfortable with Greensborough’s depth for 2021 season

Greensborough coach Mick Harford is confident a mix of high-end talent and exciting youth will have the Borough in the NFL Division 1 premiership mix in 2021.

Ben Fennell in action for Greensborough. Picture: Chris Eastman

Greensborough’s mix of high-end talent and exciting youth has coach Mick Harford confident of a strong showing in 2021.

The Borough’s depth will be tested after losing several players from the 2019 NFL Division 1 senior and reserves grand finals sides but is confident its young talent can fill the void.

Reigning NFL Under-19 Division 1 league best-and-fairest Rayden Garrard will be given a chance to impress.

The developing big man played 11 of 14 under-19 games in 2019, featuring three times at senior level, but still polled 20 votes to claim top honours.

“We’re comfortable bringing our kids through, we’re also comfortable we’ve got enough top-end talent and with the mixture of both we’ll be OK,” Harford said.

Billy Bedford in action for Greensborough. Picture: Hamish Blair

“In 2019 we had a young guy named Rayden Garrard win the under-19 league best-and-fairest and another handful of guys that are solid players that have had two full pre-seasons now.

“(Rayden’s) a really exciting talent.

“He’s big, he’s hard at the ball and his second efforts are great, so we can use him either in the ruck or forward.

“He can take a big mark, he played a game at Macleod a couple of years ago and took a couple of really strong marks when he was still an under-19 boy and has had another couple of years of development.”

Jordan McIvor-Clark and cousin Fletcher McIvor will not wear green in 2021 after submitting clearances to VAFA Premier premiers Uni Blues.

Charlie Molyneux (South Australia), Cailan Kellett (North Heidelberg), Nick Beames (Lower Plenty), Jacob Pickett (Watsonia), Lachlan McQuilken (St Arnaud), Josh Riddle (Tyabb) have departed since 2019, while Tynan Smith has earned a place on the Northern Bullants’ VFL list.

Tynan Smith has earned a place on the Northern Bullants’ list. Picture: Chris Eastman

Former AFL winger Nathan Hrovat is expected to recommit for 2021 and Billy Murphy has returned after a stint in Queensland but is also expected to spend most of his time with the Bullants.

Senior stars including captain Chris Clark, Tom Bell, Nick Riddle, Jack Johnston and Ben Fennell all re-signed in September.

The 2019 Division 1 grand finalist had its first pre-season hit out against Eastern power Balwyn on Saturday.

Harford was pleased with his team’s showing after throwing several youngsters “in the deep end”.

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“We had 23 unavailable on Saturday … we played a lot of our kids that have never played senior footy,” he said.

“Up until three-quarter-time the scores were pretty level and then Balwyn kicked away in the last quarter.

“One kid, last time he played he was an under-16, and played in our senior team so it was a good experience for him and a number of the boys.”

Greensborough kicks off its 2021 campaign on the road against promotion-winners Whittlesea on April 10.