North Heidelberg captain Kyle McDonald says 2020 a ‘clean slate’
North Heidelberg captain Kyle McDonald says coach Jason Heatley’s arrival and a high player turnover this off-season gives the club a clean slate in 2020 after back-to-back preliminary final losses.
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North Heidelberg captain Kyle McDonald has praised new coach Jason Heatley’s immediate impact at the club.
Bulldogs great Heatley has taken the coaching reins after an unsettled 12 months at Shelley Reserve, with Jimmy House stepping down on the eve of last season before AFL games record holder Brent Harvey stepped up to lead the NFL Division 1 outfit.
Harvey handed back the clipboard last year and North Heidelberg premiership star Heatley was appointed after serving as an assistant at Eastern league club Doncaster in 2019.
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“I think we’ve been unlucky the last couple of years with coaching,” McDonald said.
“Jimmy House stepping down and then Boomer taking on the role at short notice, which was great for us, but it was always going to be a temporary thing.
“To get Heats is a super pick up for the club. He’s obviously an ex-player, been successful at other clubs and won a premiership at Northcote in his first season.”
After back-to-back preliminary final appearances, North Heidelberg has had an off-season of change with several senior players departing.
Co-captain Daniel Bramich (Thomastown), Jhye Baddeley-Kelly (Epping), Michael Florance (Diamond Creek), Leigh Gilbert (Kinglake) and Kyle Green (Bundoora) have all exited.
On the plus side, Charlie Le Fanu, Jackson Starcevich (both Northcote Park), Anthony Daw (Airport West), Caillin Kett (Greensborough) and NFL under-17 league best-and-fairest Jared Crosbie (Kilmore) have arrived.
Tom McKenzie, who is in North Melbourne’s VFL squad, has also signed on as an aligned player.
“It’s a clean slate, especially with the turnover we’ve had,” McDonald said.
“Heats implements his values and beliefs and we go from there, we try not to dwell on the past.
“We have had a few move on for different reasons. Every year you expect two or three, but unfortunately more than a few have moved on this year.
“But we’ve got plenty of young blokes who have been putting in the work the last two or three years and are looking to break out.”
McDonald takes the Bulldogs’ captaincy solo this season after sharing leadership duties with Bramich last year and will be supported by vice-captain Billy Hogan.
North Heidelberg starts its 2020 campaign with a blockbuster clash against rival Macleod at Shelley Reserve on April 4.
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