Season in review: Greensborough denied shot at redemption again

SEASON REVIEW: The loss of another season has been challenging at Greensborough but coach Mick Harford is confident the club is well placed.

Tom Brindley in action for Greensborough. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Greensborough coach Mick Harford expects to be an active player this recruiting season as the club looks to win that elusive premiership in 2022.

The Borough have now been denied a shot at redemption by COVID for two years after the heartbreak of 2019.

The club has some of the best young talent in the Northern Football League and will look to supplement that with new faces.

Harford said there were positions in need of strengthening but a balance between recruiting and development was critical.

“The age bracket of the playing group is pretty good and the guys that have been around for a while are still young in football terms,” he said.

Skipper Chris Clark in action for Greensborough. Picture: Nathan McNeill

“There’s a raft of talent underneath that will continue to develop.

“We’re always active, there’s still a couple of positions we’d like to be stronger in.

“You’re always going to have some transition but it’s just about making sure there’s replacements for the exits.

“You’ve got to keep bringing people in, I think there’s got to be a really careful balance between retainment and recruitment.”

A key forward could be at the top of the Borough’s wishlist after Ben Fennell and Tom Bell topped the goalkicking this season with 16 majors.

However, the positives far outweighed the negatives.

Tom Brindley enjoyed a stunning breakout season and was leading the Coaches’ MVP voting at the half-way mark of the season.

Rayden Garrard cemented himself as the club’s No. 1 ruckman before a dislocated knee saw him miss a handful of games.

Northern Knights-listed young guns Angus Sievers and Ben Fisher, reserves leading goalkicker Matt Lewis and Lachie Agnew were among 11 debutants.

The Borough also possess arguably the most dominant defence in the competition led by Nick Riddle, Billy Bedford, Michael Croxford and Jack Johnston.

Nathan Hrovat in action for Greensborough. Picture: Nathan McNeill

Meanwhile, the club hopes Bell and Nathan Hrovat will recommit in the near future.

A win over premier West Preston-Lakeside at least allowed some demons to be buried while there were two strong wins over North Heidelberg.

Despite a post-lockdown hiccup, Greensborough sat third on the primed for a strong finals campaign when the season was called off.

Harford said the challenge will be getting the playing group up for a new season after two years of no reward.

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“It’s difficult, it’s hard to reconcile, and it’s one of the ongoing challenges that we face because it’s been two full years and we haven’t been able to get another crack at it,” he said.

“It was a positive season, we clearly struggled out of the first lockdown but other than that it was pretty positive.

“We played some pretty good footy at times, the victory over West (Preston-Lakeside) early in the year and a couple of really solid wins against North Heidelberg.

“A whole lot of work and a whole lot of time for no outcome is challenging.”