Kyneton coach Ethan Foreman discusses the Tigers’ expectations, recruits
Ethan Foreman headlines a group of key players Kyneton hopes will have full seasons in 2025 as the club looks to step up to Riddell District finals.
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Ethan Foreman is back in yellow and black.
Not that he ever left but the Tigers coach will pull the boots on in 2025 after missing the second half of last year as he underwent firefighter training.
He’s one of several key players the club hopes will have uninterrupted seasons after injuries hit hard in its Riddell District debut.
Foreman played nine games, James O’Sullivan missed the entire season after injuring his knee in Round 1, while captain Harrison Huntley was limited to 10 matches, Sam Bartels nine and Dylan Holden 12.
Star ruckman Jayden Eales ruptured his ACL in Round 2 but will suit up for Sunbury Kangaroos this season.
Foreman said it would be a significant boost to the club to have everyone fully fit.
“I’m back in, 100 per cent, touch wood no issues because I’m getting old now.
“I played nine games last season, so I’ll be back fully, and we’ve got a guy like James O’Sullivan has had a massive pre-season – he hurt his knee in Round 1 and we didn’t see him again – so he’s like new recruits.
“We had a shocking year with injury-wise, there were a lot of guys that missed a lot of footy, so if we can get these guys on the park we’ll see how we go.
“We’ve picked up a few too, it’s been a solid off-season of recruiting, and a lot of the 19s are starting to show a bit, which is really positive or the club.”
Coming across from the Bendigo league, Foreman admitted the club might have got ahead of itself coming into the Riddell District league.
Expecting to make finals, the club was disappointed with a sixth-placed finish, missing out on the top-five by a game after losing its finals two games of the season.
However, now with a better understanding of the competition, the Tigers are looking to push up the ladder.
“Sixth was a good position to finish in our first year, we knew it was going to be a reset stripping back to local talent only.
“It was hard to get a gauge of where we were at because of injuries but that’s also put a few of our Twos and 19s in good stead moving forward because they got senior exposure and they’ll push for more senior selection this year.
“Definitely this year I’d like to think we’d be close to a top-three side.
“I think we got a little bit ahead of ourselves last year, coming from a stronger Bendigo league, and Melton South will be in the same boat this year.
“The Riddell league is a lot stronger than everyone gives it credit for, judging by our inter-league results I don’t think the league gets the credit it deserves.”
Kyneton has bolstered its line-up with a string of new recruits.
Having lost Eales, Hadyn Smith’s return to the Showgrounds is a significant coup after the big man spent the past decade at Tasmanian State League club Lauderdale.
Danny Grmusa brings Western Division 1 experience having been a part of Werribee Districts’ grand final sides in 2022 and 2024, while Kristian Adorno and Ryan Jerera arrive from Point Cook.
Louis Thompson returns to Kyneton from Doncaster and brings the Sharks’ 2023 best-and-fairest winner Isaac Barassi with him in a big boost to the Tigers’ midfield.
Charlie Thompson is another returning junior having been listed at VAFA power Uni Blues last year.
Foreman was also looking for the likes of Cody Young to continue his development after stepping up to senior football last year.
“Cody Young was a 19-year-old kid on the fringe but we lost two ruckmen within three weeks, one with an ACL and one broke his neck, and Cody had to ruck the whole season,” Foreman said.
“He came on in leaps and bounds and I’m really looking forward to seeing what he can do this coming year, just playing around a wing and centre half-forward and not playing ruck.
“Hadyn Smith is our big ruckman, we had him for two games last year, coming back when Lauderdale had a bye, and he was unbelievable, nearly best-on in both games.
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“So he’s going to be huge for us because a good ruckman goes a long way in this league – as I’m sure the Wallan boys will attest to.
“Boys like Danny, Kristian and Ryan coming from the Western league, it’s a serious comp over there.
“Coming from Werribee Districts, which is a powerhouse, Danny’s been a consistent starter and played in two grand finals and he’s still only 21, so his best footy is still in front of him.”
Kyneton kicks off its Riddell District season against newcomer Gisborne Giants on April 5, it will then host Woodend-Hesket on Good Friday.
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