New Heidelberg captain Keenan Posar speaks about what position means to him

Heidelberg has a new captain and respected defender Keenan Posar has some big shoes to fill and tricky start to the season to lead the Tigers through.

New Heidelberg captain Keenan Posar and coach Vinny Dattoli.

Sam Gilmore’s boots aren’t easy to fill but Keenan Posar is looking forward to the challenge.

The respected defender has been named Tigers captain for 2024, taking over from the departed two-time premiership skipper.

A two-time premiership player himself and already one of the club’s leaders, Posar was a natural successor.

He’ll look to steer the club through a difficult pre-season, training and playing away while Warringal Park is redeveloped until May, before eyeing off a hat-trick of NFNL Division 1 titles.

The honour of taking on the role wasn’t lost on Posar.

Keenan Posar in action for Heidelberg. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“It’s big shoes to fill but hopefully we can continue what (Gilmore) started a few years ago and go for the three-peat,” Posar said.

“It’s an absolute honour, I didn’t know much about the club before coming down a few years ago, but the guys that stick around after every Thursday and you hear how rich the culture is at the club, it is.

“Especially after what Sam said to me last year about what it meant to him and past players and about the success we’ve had, it’s certainly a huge honour.”

Heidelberg is chasing a third premiership three-peat in club history.

However, the Tigers will have to do it without several key players from the past two years.

Gilmore, a three-time premiership player, best-and-fairest winner and Team of the Year regular, has stepped back to NFNL Division 3 and league newcomer Old Paradians.

Matt Smith, a two-time Coaches’ MVP and back-to-back grand final medallist, has departed for VAFA power Uni Blues.

Tom Schnerring has moved on and Isaac Wallace is off to Gippsland outfit Warragul, while reserve grade premiership players Mackenzie Hogg, Gulian Fable and Kane Veliou are also gone.

Heidelberg celebrates after winning back-to-back NFNL Division 1 premierships. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The Tigers are yet to announce any new recruits but having won the senior and reserve grade premierships and finished third and runner-up in the under-19s in the past two seasons are confident of remaining strong.

“It’s something we knew would eventually happen, you obviously can’t keep the great squad we had for so long,” Posar said.

“We were certainly preparing for it, it’s why we wanted to keep as many of the 19s and reserves boys around as possible because we know they’re certainly up to it as well.

“Matt Smith, Tom Schnerring, Isaac Wallace and Sam Gilmore, to name a few, are big outs for us but we know we have the cattle to fill in.”

Heidelberg returned to pre-season training last week, moving to Telfer Reserve in Bundoora, home of Bundoora Juniors.

The club has already locked in four pre-season practice matches ahead of a Round 1 derby blockbuster against North Heidelberg at Shelley Reserve on April 13.

The return to Warringal Park is scheduled for May 18 against Greensborough.

Posar said the group was looking good ahead of the new season and was keen to get home when possible.

“Really good, they certainly make my running look very bad because they’re all so fit and love it,” he said.

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“The way they carry on their pre-season training on their own time is unbelievable, so we’re looking very good.

“We’re still waiting for the ground to be done, we obviously love playing there and being around the club as much as possible.

“This will be a tough period, not being there, so training here and we’ve got the first five games away.

“If we can get through the first five and then mould the team to what we want it to look like in the second half of the season we’ll be OK.”