West Preston-Lakeside star on cusp of comeback after three years

West Preston-Lakeside coach Luke Giles reveals a much-loved Rooster is nearing a long-awaited return and discusses the club’s expectations for 2023.

Mark Kovacevic celebrates West Preston-Lakeside’s 2018 premiership.

The return of a much-loved West Preston-Lakeside star will be hard to beat as the good news story of the season.

When the Roosters run out for their NFNL Division 1 season-opener on April 15, it will have been 1330 days since Mark Kovacevic last wore the red, white and blue due to a serious knee injury.

It’s unlikely the big man faces Hurstbridge at Ben Frilay Oval but his return won’t be far away after a strong pre-season.

Kovacevic and West Preston-Lakeside talisman Ahmed Saad are both targeting a Round 3 return at Moore Oval against Greensborough.

Roosters coach Luke Giles has been amazed by Kovacevic’s commitment to getting back on the field.

West Preston-Lakeside ruckman Mark Kovacevic. Picture: Nathan McNeill.

Rosbrook Medallist Matthew Harman. Picture: George Sal

“He’s been working his arse off, the amount of running he’s put in,” Giles said.

“Even pre-Christmas, we played a T20 game against the cricket team, and he was running laps around the ground.

“With the return of him and Saady, both are aiming for Round 3, to have them back would be invaluable.

“It’s an enormous effort, he’s an absolute workhorse, and he’s a really strong leader around the club.

“When you’re training it’s easier to be a leader but when you’re doing your rehab, and you’re frustrated, that’s when it’s hard but he’s been a leader the whole way through.

“He’s been having conversations with people about what we expect and been really supportive for me, giving me some honest feedback and sharing different ways we can do things.”

When fit, Kovacevic will form a hard-to-stop ruck tandem with reigning Rosbrook Medallist Matthew Harman.

Harman shouldered the ruck duties last season, polling the maximum three votes six times to win the league’s top honour, and rewarded with Team of the Year honours.

Mitchell Crapper celebrates a goal for West Preston-Lakeside. Picture: George Sal

Kovacevic class was on display in 2018 when he won the grand final medal in the Roosters’ premiership win and finished fourth in the league medal despite playing just nine games.

Giles is excited by the prospect of having two top-tier big men at his disposal.

“If Kova can share the load with Harmo, it’s going to be a load of Harmo’s back and means he can get forward and the team balance is more aligned,” Giles said.

“It’s a balance, they’ll be our two ruckmen, but I think Kova will do more than Harmo – not because Harmo isn’t our main man – we’re optimistic about what he can do down forward.

“We reckon he can be a headache for teams and especially when Saady comes back, we think those two will compliment each other really nicely.”

Kovacevic will be an old new face, while reigning two-time NFNL Division 3 league best-and-fairest Chris Ryall arrives from Kilmore, Callum Fitzpatrick from Tasmanian State League club North Hobart and Nathan Franklin from SANFL outfit Glenelg.

The Roosters have also secured the services of Richmond VFL duo Ashtyn Atkinson (Rumbalara, Murray) and Mohammed Yassine (Westmeadows, EDFL).

Garrett McDonagh is also VFL-listed with the Tigers after being delisted by Essendon and West Preston hopes to have him back as well.

“Gaz is in Richmond’s VFL leading group, which speaks to the respect that he has,” Giles said.

“He comes down to our training and he’s so invested in West Preston and we’re hoping – I haven’t had a look at the VFL fixture – that it’s kind to us.

“He’s made it clear he wants to play, so if we can get him for three or four games that would be very helpful.”

The Roosters will play a pair of practice matches in preparation for the trip to the Bridges, facing EDFL clubs Strathmore and Airport West.

Several key players, including premiership players Luke Lirosi (Epping), Chris McCabe (Hurstbridge) and Daniel Costanzo (Banyule) have departed.

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Josh D’Intinosante (South Morang), Josh Iacobaccio (Pascoe Vale), Jackson Barling, Kobe Brown (both Deer Park, WRFL) and Hayden Gill, Mason Bowden and Steve Callanan (all Wallan, RDFL) have also left but expectations remain the same for a perennial contender.

“We’ve had about seven senior players move on … they leave a hole but we’ve got young kids that are really hungry and talented and we think are ready to play their best footy,” Giles said.

“This club, we want to contend every year, we don’t believe in rebuilds or transition years. Once you start thinking like that you’re done.

“We come into the season wanting to win it and before we think about that we want to win enough games to make the five, which is what we expect to do.”