Thomastown reveals how it will use its boom off-season recruit in 2022

Thomastown will have a feared one-two ruck punch in 2022 and reveals how it plans to use its three-time league best-and-fairest-winning recruit.

Heidelberg West's Jarryd Coulson in action. Picture: Nathan William Media

Thomastown will unleash a two-headed monster on NFL Division 2 in 2022.

The Bears sealed one of the biggest recruiting moves of the summer when three-time Division 3 league best-and-fairest Jarryd Coulson crossed from Heidelberg West and they’ve revealed how they plan to use the star ruckman.

Coulson will work in tandem with incumbent big man Joel Carter but coach Mario Bandera believes he can also play at either end of the ground depending on the team’s needs.

“Jarryd’s been a target of ours for a couple of years but to his credit, his loyalty to Heidelberg West (meant he didn’t sign), Bandera said.

“In that time we picked up Joel but we wanted a two-headed monster, if that’s what you want to call it, ruck brigade.

Joel Carter during his time at Epping. Picture: Nathan McNeil

Jarryd Coulson in action for Heidelberg West. Picture: Nathan McNeill

“We would like to think when either one is having a rest we won’t have a drop in output from our ruck stocks.

“Joel can play deep in the forward line and Jarryd can play forward and back as he did during his time at Northern Blues.

“It’s not purely a ruck thing, it gives us a lot of flexibility in team structure.

“I’ve watched a lot of footage of Jarryd, his skills for a player of his size are exceptional, he’s got great kicking accuracy and efficiency.”

Thomastown’s one-two punch will be hard to match in a competition with plenty of ruck power.

It will also give the Bears midfield a major boost against the likes of premiership contenders Banyule and Lower Plenty.

“We rate our midfield fairly highly and we think it can match it with the best sides in the competition,” Bandera said.

“What we found last year, there were games where Joel had to carry an unfair burden because we were using young Seb D’Arro, but he was a 17-year-old kid and there were games when he struggled.

Thomastown coach Mario Bandera. Picture: Steve Tanner

“We were lucky Joel didn’t pick up a major injury.

“I think he’s excited to be teaming up with Joel and Joel is pretty excited to be teaming up with him.”

In 12 appearances for Heidelberg West last season, Coulson was named in the best on seven occasions and kicked 10 goals.

He departs the Hawks after 55 senior games, two club best-and-fairests, three league best-and-fairest and four Team of the Year guernseys.

The star big man is the only major signing so far this off-season.

However, Bandera is also excited by the prospect of young Macleod pair Chris Kantzidis and Bailey Grioli.

“We’ve still got a couple of things brewing and COVID’s played a part in that, some players are unsure of what they want to do,” Bandera said.

“We’ve picked up a couple of young guys from First Division clubs that I think have got a lot of potential but didn’t get an opportunity.

“Jarryd might be the one that got a lot of traction but we think there’s a couple that will fit into our senior side from day one.”

Thomastown also hopes to get a full season of Michael Tang at full forward.

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The former VFL midfielder was moved to the goalsquare mid-season and booted 20 goals in eight games – including 12 in his last three – before being struck down by a knee injury.

“Tangy’s on the track, he ended up having surgery, but he went down a path of trying to come back for finals, which set him back a bit, Bandera said.

“He’s done a full pre-season, he’s looking good and feeling hungry, which is good for us because it wasn’t until half way through the season we figured out he was a good full forward.

“His main roles in the past have been centre half-back and onball so I think he’s excited to have a full season to have a crack at it.”