Thomastown coach Peter Bugden discusses team changes and expectations

Thomastown will field a different looking side under coach Peter Bugden, while the Bears will field under-19s for the first time in a decade.

Michael Tang celebrates a goal for Thomastown. Picture: Andy Brownbill

New Thomastown coach Peter Bugden has thrown the magnets around this pre-season.

The Bears will have a different look this NFNL Division 2 season with different players in different roles as the club looks to a final for the first time since its 2014 Division 3 premiership.

Team of the Year full-back and club captain Josh Beare will be moved forward to partner Michael Tang in attack.

Team of the Year ruckman Jarryd Coulson could also spend more time forward as Bugden looks to Joel Carter, Jackson Hay and Bill Samie to ease the pressure on his star big man.

The midfield group will also change but reigning best-and-fairest Lawrence Lo Piccolo will remain a key cog in the engine room.

James Rizzolio looks to launch Thomastown into attack. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“Going into Round 1 we’re expecting to have a new full-back, new centre half-back, an extra midfielder, two new forwards and probably another ruckman,” Bugden said.

“That’s probably a 20 per cent change from the team that last played in the final.

“JB (Beare) will be playing forward this year, he’s a quality, well-rounded footballer.

“If the need arises to push him back, I will, but we’re very confident and he’s performed very well in a forward role.

“We’ve picked up Makka Zakkour from West Preston, he’s an experienced, premiership-winning Division 1 player, and Matt Morison, who has a lot of experience at Bundoora.

“Jackson will be stepping up to play a fair bit of ruck time, which will release Jarryd to maybe play a bit more forward.

“There’s definitely going to be changes in our midfield mix too, I think we’ll run a bit deeper.

“Matty Vasilevski, James Rizzolio, Tyrone Leonardis played through the mids but missed large chunks of footy but they’re all fit and excited to get out on the field.”

Matthew Vasilevski in action for Thomastown. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Thomastown has continued its strong recruiting push.

Mernda pair Josh Mazzarella and Anthony Bradford have crossed to Main Street Reserve, along with Jude Georgievski (Epping), Ash Hood (Fitzroy Stars), Will Tang (Pascoe Vale), Khodr Waari, Zakkour (both West Preston-Lakeside), Samie (Westmeadows) and Morison (Bundoora).

However, perhaps most importantly is the club’s success in securing an under-19s team for the first this season.

The Bears won the Division 2 Under-19 premiership in 2012 but haven’t fielded a side since.

“Thomastown is an old area but we like to see ourselves as a destination club in the area,” Bugden said.

“South Morang and Mernda are in a growth area but other clubs in our area, we’d be the envy of them for putting together 25-26 kids to play under-19s – from scratch, without under-17s to feed them.

“It’s awesome for us, it will be one of the highlights of the year for me no matter what happens, putting those kids in a Thommo jumper.

“Quite a few have played through the (senior) practice matches, so it’s all very positive.”

Thomastown will be looking to improve on last season’s elimination final appearance after the club made a stunning late run to snatch a finals place in the last round of the season.

Bugden will be looking to avoid a repeat of last season’s early-season struggles, putting the club through four practice matches to ensure he and the players are fully prepared.

The Bears will face Epping at Epping on Good Friday before hosting promotion winners South Morang in their home opener on April 22.

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“Thomastown has been the fifth side for the last 10 years and the challenge for us is to start beating sides above us,” Bugden said.

“Obviously, everyone is aiming to play finals and finish as high as they can and I’d like to think if we can pull it all together it’s very possible.

“Momentum is everything in footy, so we’re very keen to get off to a great start.

“We play the Pingers and then South Morang, which is very much a rival club, I’m from South Morang at one point and a number of the players are too so we’re excited to face them.”