Wallan remains an attacking force despite departures and injuries to key players

Wallan boasts the second best attack in the Riddell District despite the several off-season departures and injuries to key players this season.

Matt Perri looks set to lose his Riddell District goalkicking crown but Wallan remains an offensive force.

Perri has been restricted to six appearances this season, kicking 11 goals, but the Magpies still boast the second best attack in the competition despite losing key players and battling injuries.

Last season’s second-leading goalkicker Corey Grindlay, Nathan Fowler and Bowen Medallist Ricky Schraven all departed in the summer.

Michael Baccari made a strong start to the season, booting 13 goals in seven matches, before injury struck, while Jacob Langborne had 10 in five games before going down.

It’s forced the club to spread the load in attack and could prove critical come finals.

Led by skipper Michael Mannix, Wallan also has the second best defence.

After a tumultuous off-season, Magpies coach Daniel Nolan believes his team is only getting better.

“They continue to learn and develop, we lost a few good players in the off-season and had some doubters, but the group’s ability to adapt has been so pleasing,” he said.

“We have obviously injected a lot of youth into the program and are now playing a fast, attacking game style with a focus on two-way running.

“The future of the club is bright, with these talented kids coming through, we’ve had multiple players debut this year for the club.

“If we can finish top three and get that second chance, that would be an amazing achievement, with our list changes over summer and the amount of kids getting valuable senior experience.”

Hayden Gill returned from Carlton VFL duties on Saturday and booted three goals in a 28-point win over Romsey at Greenhill Reserve.

Magpie leaders Steve Boyall and Corey Viani continued their outstanding seasons, while the likes of Gill, Alex Crnko, Brodie Gilchrist, Patrick Baccari, Angelos Sidhom and Jordan Port played key roles.

Injuries to key players has seen opportunities given to younger players.

Nolan has been particularly pleased with the likes of Jake Layley, Brodie Gilchrist, Josh Vilinskis and Patrick Baccari, while Corey Viani, Sean Morris, Steve Boyall and Perri provide critical leadership.

Nolan hopes it pays off at the end of the year.

“We still have injury concerns to some extremely good players, including Michael Baccari, Jacob Langborne, Toddy Muldoon, Michael Tinkler and Dan Mackertich,” Nolan said.

“With these players being out the past few weeks, it has tested our depth but has presented as opportunities for others to gain experience, so to be sitting a game clear in third with a healthy percentage just speaks volumes of our players.

“The group has been competitive against the top teams, leading both Riddell and Woodend at three-quarter-time but just falling short.

“Hopefully we can get our full squad available come finals time and give it a real shake, if it can click then we will be very hard to match up against.”

Wallan hosts Macedon at Greenhill Reserve on Saturday before facing Western Rams and Melton Centrals.

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A blockbuster clash against Diggers Rest then looms in a big test of the Magpies’ premiership credentials.

The club faces Woodend-Hesket and Riddell in the final fortnight of the home-and-away season, which will decide whether it secures the double chance.

Perri will need a huge finish to the season to defend his goalkicking title, which he has won three times in a row.

Despite being held goalless on the weekend, Romsey’s Jack Jedwab leads the way with 31 majors, ahead of Diggers Rest’s Mitch Day (27) and Melton Centrals’ Dylan Jobson (23).