Wallan coach Daniel Nolan bullish about ambition after huge list changes

Wallan has seen a massive player turnover this summer but Magpies coach Daniel Nolan is adamant his club remains a premiership contender.

Brodie Gilchrist in action for Wallan. Picture: Andy Brownbill

The winds of change have swept through Greenhill Reserve but Wallan coach Daniel Nolan is adamant his club remains a Riddell District premiership contender.

Last season’s preliminary finalist has lost a host of star players but, in their place, has welcomed several talented juniors.

Such is Nolan’s confidence he’s labelled the Magpies’ squad the “best young list in the competition”.

The arrivals include current Carlton VFL-listed big man Hayden Gill, former Brisbane Lions VFL-listed Jacob Langborne, former Cannons Mason Bowden, Steven Callanan and Michael Baccari and Craigieburn premiership wingman Josh Vilinskis.

Current Calder Cannon and under-16 Vic Metro talent and 2024 AFL Draft hope Nash King will also call Wallan home.

Steven Callanan in action for West Preston-Lakeside. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Joshua Vilinskis in action for Caroline Springs. Picture: George Salpigtidis

These additions are on top of Spencer Whittingham, who won the RDFNL under-19 league best-and-fairest and under-19 premiership teammates such as Brodie Gilchrist and Cam Selvaggio.

“I think we’re going to have the best young list in the competition, I really do,” Nolan said.

“These boys have played Calder Cannons or at Assumption or they’ve played Div 1 footy somewhere.

“With the combination of strong leadership from blokes like (Michael) Mannix, (Steve) Boyle who won the Bowen Medal and Matt Perri has won the last three goalkicking awards, we had five blokes that made the Team of the Year last year.

“We’ve got a diverse group of strong top-end leaders and a huge pool of youth, it’s going to be hard to match up on.

“If it can click, if we can get the senior, experienced boys to support the young guys – we’ll be unique and hard to match up on.”

Patrick Baccari (Greenvale) and Callum Langborne (AFL Queensland) join their brothers, along with Braeden Braunack (Claremont, Tasmania), Owen Fowler (Whittlesea, NFL), Jordan Port (Tullamarine, EDFL) and Angelos Sidhom (Airport West, EDFL).

The departures will be tough to replace.

Wallan captain Michael Mannix remains a star of the competition. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Ricky Schraven, 2021 Bowen Medallist, and brother Ben have joined Seymour and Kilmore respectively, Brock and Fowler have also joined Seymour.

Corey Baker, Jarryd Bonello and Matt Bonello have switched to Greenvale, while RDFNL Footballer of the Year Corey Grindlay and under-19 premiership captain Callum Birch are off to Heathcote.

The changes have made Nolan even more determined to break the club’s premiership drought.

“I’m really proud having all these Wallan juniors come back, it shows we’re still heading in the right direction,” he said.

“The motivation is the same, I want to break the premiership drought at Wallan.

“We were given a (minor premiership) flag in 2021 but for me I want to win a premiership on the day, I’ve got a burning ambition to break this drought at Wallan.”

Nolan identified young midfielder Jake Layley as one player to take on a bigger role.

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“He probably doesn’t get enough credit, he’s flying, and is certainly someone that can make a Team of the Year,” Nolan said.

“He’ll have more of a midfield presence, he finished fourth or fifth in our best-and-fairest and won our tackle count so I think he’s ready for the league to take more notice.”

Wallan won the under-19s premiership last season, finishing runner-up in reserve grade and reached the senior preliminary final.

The Magpies will prepare for the new season with pre-season matches against Torquay and Westmeadows before travelling to Romsey on April 15.