Diggers Rest to unveil host of new recruits after busy RDFL off-season
Diggers Rest will unleash a bevy of new recruits against Melton Centrals but coach Jamie Lobb says his players will have to be patient.
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Diggers Rest coach Jamie Lobb says his players will have to be patient as he works out the best fit for the team.
The Burras have welcomed a host of recruits for 2022, headlined by returning star Deven Costigan (Swan Districts, WAFL) and star forward Mitch Jensen (Echuca United).
Marcus Calvaresi and Mitch Day have arrived from EDFL Premier outfit Essendon Doutta Stars, Tom Evans is back after a stint at East Sunbury and Josh Wallace returns from injury.
However, the influx of talent has given Lobb a headache ahead of its RDFL season opener against Melton Centals on Saturday.
“I said to the guys over the last couple of weeks ‘you’re just going to have to be patient with me’,” he said.
“We’re got a versatile group and it might take us half a season until we get the mix right of what guys are best suited to playing what position.
“There’s going to be a bit of trial and error, we’ve got five or six of those type of players, so it’s a good position to be in but it might be a bit frustrating.”
Jensen and Costigan looms as one of the best one-two forward combinations in the league.
Jensen, a VFL premiership winner at Footscray, booted 43 goals in just nine games for Romsey in 2019, while Costigan kicked 40 the same year before heading west.
However, Lobb has signalled a potential change for the pair.
“Someone like Jeno can hurt every team up forward but you want him running through the midfield as well,” Lobb said.
“He’ll predominantly play in the forward line, he’s very dangerous and crafty, so it would be hard not to play him there but at the same time I want to see what he can do up the field as well.”
Tom Evans will bolster the Burras midfield after East Sunbury pulled the pin on its EDFL Division 2 season.
Jake Hiam has also arrived from East Sunbury, while Ryan Mullen has switched from Westmeadows and Lachlan Ronaldson from Glenroy.
Lobb has been pleased with what he’s seen from his new faces.
“Day and Calvaresi have come across from Doutta Stars and have been awesome over summer – they haven’t missed a training session,” he said.
Josh Wallace is back after tearing his Achilles last year, he’s had a full summer and been one of our better movers.
“Deven coming back from Perth will slot straight back in, he’s been back in Victoria for four weeks and hasn’t missed a session, been up there in all the running and prominent in the match sim.
“He didn’t play much over there but he did get a couple of pre-seasons and for him to now come back we’re looking forward to seeing how he goes.”
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Jensen and Evans only submitted clearances this week but Lobb said that was more a player administration issue.
Diggers Rest take on Centrals in their first game of the season, with the Blues coming off a strong 92-point win over Western Rams.
The match was originally scheduled for Bloomdale Oval but has been moved to Arnolds Creek due to the late delivery of temporary facilities.
With Bloomdale undergoing a renovation last year the facilities weren’t ready for Saturday’s game and the Burras will have to wait until Round 4, April 30, against Romsey to unveil their upgraded ground.
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