West Preston-Lakeside coach Ian Aitken discusses young talent and 2024 aims
31 for 31: After missing finals for the first time since 2016, West Preston-Lakeside will give its promising youngsters more opportunity to excel in 2024.
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West Preston-Lakeside will usher in a new generation this season.
After missing NFNL Division 1 finals for the first time since 2016 last season, the Roosters will look to youth in 2024.
Respected coach Ian Aitken has been given the task of rebuilding the list and keeping the club in the top-flight.
A wave of talent is ready to step up to senior football after West’s under-19s reached the Division 1 preliminary final last season.
Promising prospect Dante Colosimo leads the way after winning the under-19 league best-and-fairest and goalkicking awards last season.
Seb LeGreca finished second in the league medal, while James Stepien wasn’t far behind, and Northern Knights graduate Alek D’Arro has arrives from Whittlesea.
The Roosters have also added experienced quartet Coburg VFL-listed talent Tom McKenzie, Bregon Cotchett (Inglewood), Kobe Brown (Deer Park), Max Johnson (Lockington Bamawn).
Aitken was looking forward to seeing the young talent take the opportunity.
“We’ve got quite a young side, some good talent coming through,” Aitken said.
“Some will stand up in senior footy, some might take a bit longer, but having that talent come through from the 19s keeps you optimistic.
“There’s a number of them; Romy Noureddine, Seb LeGreca, James Stepien, Hayden Delos, Dante Colosimo, Alek D’Arro, those sort of guys give you hope for the future.
“If it’s a place where people enjoy coming then word will spread and I hear we might get a few back, who played with us in the glory days.”
The opportunity comes after the loss of several key players.
Two-time premiership co-captain and goalkicking great Ahmed Saad has departed for Essendon District club Pascoe Vale, along with Mohammed Yassine.
Premiership players Mark Kovacevic (Shepparton Swans), Alex Federico and Aiden Tilley (both Wangaratta Magpies) have also left.
As have Callum Kilpatrick (North Hobart), Jack Nicolo (Old Paradians), Malik Elfakahani (East Keilor) and Beaudie Maroney (Old Eltham Collegians).
Saad was the club’s leading goalkicker last season with 35 majors in 13 appearances, Chris Ryall (eight votes) and Matt Harman (seven) were the club’s Rosbrook Medal front-runners.
Harman, along with several club veterans, has been leading the way this off-season.
“The leaders, guys that were part of getting me to the club, are setting the example,” Aitken said.
“You’ve got Adam Valeri, Max Dreher, Matt Harman, Matt Belbasis, those four are really standing up.
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“We just want to be competitive, we believe if we play our brand of footy that we can compete with anyone and win any game on any given day.”
West Preston-Lakeside ramps up pre-season preparations with a practice match against Division 2 preliminary finalist St Mary’s on Sunday.
The Roosters will then face Eastern club Croydon.
A Round 1 clash with Greensborough awaits on April 13 at War Memorial Reserve before a first home game at Moore Park against North Heidelberg.
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