Mix of youth and experience to lift Kilmore back up NFNL Division 3 ladder

31 for 31: After falling out of finals contention last season, Kilmore is confident its young talent mixed with experience can lift the club back up the ladder.

Bailey Derrick in action for Kilmore. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Kilmore will hand the reins to the club’s young talent this season.

The Blues were forced to blood the kids last season, dropping out of NFNL Division 3 finals contention with just six games – four against Reservoir and Lalor.

The club hopes that foundation will see it bounce back up the ladder in 2024.

Young players natural improvement combined with existing talents such as Chris Barton and Mick Marrett and the addition of key recruits such as Ben Barton, Kye Maher and Joe Coe has Kilmore coach Paul Derrick bullish about its direction.

“The beginning of last season we lost about 800 games of senior experience, which was a bit much in one hit,” Derrick said.

Chris Barton in action for Kilmore. Picture: Nathan McNeill

“We pumped games into the young kids and you can already see with the three practice games, with a different game style and as they mature we’ll change that up, they’re playing some good footy.

“Last year we had to rely on whatever we had left, five or six senior guys, to do the grunt work and play through them a lot.

“This year we’re putting more faith in the young guys in one-on-one contests and giving them more specific roles, so they’ll be more important than ever.

“Being an old Mernda head, I’ve looked at what South Morang did – built from within and trusted the young guys.

“They had some hard years, we don’t want to go back that far and I don’t think we did last year, so now it’s a matter of building it up and keeping the locals on board and improving.”

Barton arrives after earning Team of the Year honours in the Heathcote District league with Colbinabbin, while Coe (Mernda), Maher (North Heidelberg), Luke Chapman (Longwood), Brad Deed (Laurimar) and Ryan Bailey (Macleod) add experience and leadership.

Longwood best-and-fairest winner Mitch van de Duim and Wallan under-19s captain Brian Lawrence have also jumped on board.

Captain Marrett and Barton finished joint eighth in the Division 3 league best-and-fairest, while Barton earned Team of the Year honours.

Derrick knows his leaders will produce on a weekly basis and is backing the next generation to step up to more senior roles.

“My boy Ethan, he kicked 27 (goals) last season but we want him to get up near the 40 or 50 mark,” Derrick said.

“Our onball list is headed by Chris Barrett and Mick Marrett but after that I think everyone else is under 21, all those guys will be asked to step up to another level.

“Marcus Lacorcia has had a fantastic pre-season, he’s a great size and athletic.

There’s a host of young blokes, even Ben Doyle who’s still 17s eligible played a lot last year and I’d say he’d be a permanent fixture in our senior side this year.”

Kilmore wrapped up pre-season preparations with a practice match win over Essendon District club Sunbury Kangaroos.

The Blues also matched up against Roxburgh Park and Coburg Districts.

However, the club will have to wait an extra week after drawing the bye in Round 1.

A home match against Reservoir at Clancy Reserve will kick off the season on April 13.

Derrick is looking forward to seeing some of new faces take to the field.

“Ben’s going to be fantastic but he got injured in one of the practice games so we might not see him until Round 3 or 4,” he said.

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“The first half of the practice game he did play he was BOG by a mile, so he’s going to be great for us.

“Brad Deed has come across from Laurimar and you can already see the influence he has on the group, he’s got VFL experience, and he’s a natural leader.

“Ryan Bailey has come across from Macleod and just lifts the level of training straight away and Kye Maher from North Heidelberg.

“Josh Coe is a massive pick-up for us, he’s been fantastic already and I’d put him in the top list of ruckmen in the comp if he continues to improve.”