Pearcedale reloads, targets ‘specific’ recruit

Pearcedale will regain a star player — and is targeting a particular type of recruit for the 2025 season.

Peter Bastinac says Pearcedale has room for “a specific player’’. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Stability, and targeted recruiting, will underpin Pearcedale’s quest to become a genuine title contender in 2025.

The Dales have played in the past three elimination finals in MPFNL Division 2, only once (2022) progressing to the semi-finals.

Pearcedale has retained its entire list, including leading goal kicker Brett Eddy, star midfielder Tom Schneider and best and fairest winner Ryan Bastinac.

And notably, star defender Jack McGuiness will return after missing the entire 2024 season recovering from an ACL injury.

“He’s looking good for next season, a big acquisition for us,” Pearcedale coach Peter Bastinac said of McGuiness, who did his knee against Edi-Asp in July, 2023.

Jack McGuiness, right, will be back for Pearcedale in 2025. Picture: Valeriu Campan

Pearcedale is looking to recruit a defender.

“We’ve got room for a player but it has to be a specific player we want,’’ Bastinac said.

“We’ve got a good balance on our list now with experience and youth, we want to develop the homegrown boys again, they’re going to be a year older.

“To strengthen our list would be to get a key defender in. There’s a couple of boys we’re talking to at the moment but nothing’s really transpired as yet.

“With Jack (McGuiness) coming back he will help bolster our back line but we feel if we can get another key defender we’ll be in good shape.”

Pearcedale won 11 games this year, including a victory over grand finalists Chelsea. The Dales nearly beat eventual premiers Edi-Asp in Round 14, losing by a point when Eddy kicked 10 goals.