Thomastown reunites one of the most fear combinations in Northern footy

Thomastown is reuniting one of the most feared combinations in Northern footy, signing the Division 3 league best-and-fairest and Coaches MVP runner-up.

Masaki Miki in action for Heidelberg West.

One of the most feared combinations in NFL Division 3 is reuniting at Thomastown.

Masaki Miki has joined his Heidelberg West running mate Jarryd Coulson at Thomastown Recreation Reserve for 2022, adding more muscle to the Bears’ midfield.

Miki won the Hawks’ best-and-fairest, finished runner-up in the Division 3 league best-and-fairest and Coaches MVP last season and was named ruck rover in the Team of the Year following an outstanding 2021 season.

He also won a club champion award and was named in the Team of the Year in 2017.

A former Northern Knights TAC Cup player and two-time Division 1 reserves premiership player at Heidelberg, Miki looms as one of the recruits of the season.

Bears coach Mario Bandera was looking forward to seeing his impact.

“It probably took Masaki a bit longer, he wanted to know himself whether he wanted to play footy again,” Bandera said.

“He communicated fairly clearly that we were a live chance if he decided to do so and he was very apologetic about the time that it took.

“Watching him at training and in the intra-club, he’s brutal, the boys were in awe.

“What I did like, as much as he is a bull he can hurt on the outside as well, he’s got great skills and his work rate is unbelievable.

“We do have some hard bodies (in the midfield) but I think he adds a different element and I know Tyrone (Leonardis) was loving it.

“As much as we seem predictable on the outside, it makes us a bit more unpredictable because of what he brings.”

Miki was named in Heidelberg West’s best seven times in 11 games last season.

The hard-running onballer adds another strong body to a midfield group already loaded with the likes of Daniel Chadwick, Shannon Ball, James Rizzolio and Aaron D’Angelo.

Thomastown finished third last season and is looking to challenge the pre-season favourites Lower Plenty and Banyule.

While Coulson and Miki have spent the last few seasons in Division 3, Bandera has no doubt they’ll step up with ease.

“It’s easy to look at both Jarryd and Masaki as Div 3 players and assume they’ll not be up to Division 2 standard but I’d warn people to make that assumption that their peril,” he said.

“It’s not only disrespectful of Div 3 clubs, and especially Heidelberg West, but to both our players.

“Those with short memories need to be reminded they were both top-tier Div 1 players, Jarryd was a senior VFL player and Maz won two Div 1 reserves premierships.”

Coulson and Miki will be joined by fellow new faces Chris Kantzidis and Bailey Grioli, both from Macleod.

Having recruited strongly Bandera revealed the club still has a few points still to play with under the league cap.

BEARS: THOMMO TO UNLEASH TWO-HEADED MONSTER

LEADER: GET YOUR NORTHERN FOOTY NEWS HERE

DIV 1: ZAHARAKIS’ SHOCK FIRST IMPRESSION AT BUNDOORA

“That’s something we’ve obviously got to be careful with but we’ve still got some points to play with,” he said.

“As I said, we don’t have the luxury of other clubs who have the junior funnel but what we are proud of is that guys come to the club and very rarely do the leave.

“Before my time, Thomastown has been able to attract some quality players that are now one-pointers.”

Thomastown will warm up for the new season with practice matches against Division 1 outfit Macleod and Eastern league Division 2 club Heathmont.