Woodend—Hesket coach Josh Pound determined to break final drought

Woodend-Hesket coach Josh Pound says its time the Hawks’ football department “started pulling its weight” as it eyes a drought-breaking campaign.

Tom Gawthrop in action for Woodend-Hesket. Picture: Andy Brownbill

Woodend-Hesket coach Josh Pound says it’s time the senior football club “started to pull it’s weight”.

The Hawks have a strong junior program and a highly successful netball club but hasn’t played RDFNL senior football finals since 2009, with it’s last premiership in 2007.

Pound is confident the club can snap at least one of those droughts this season.

“I’m really passionate about the group of young men we’ve put together,” he said.

“I think a realistic goal for us is to play finals this year but there’s a lot of work to ensure we do that.

Dean Bramley in action for Woodend-Hesket. Picture: Andy Brownbill

“That’s the first step in having more senior success as a football club, we’re well set up with netball and everything its doing in the community but it’s time for the senior football club to pull it’s weight.”

Woodend-Hesket has recruited strongly again over summer.

Two-time Bendigo league Michelsen Medallist Tim Martin (Banyule), Gisborne premiership player Ethan Minns, Riddell premiership player Riley Paterson, Sam Medland (East Fremantle, WAFL) and Kyle Baker (Maribyrnong Park) headline the arrivals.

However, arguably most significant is the return to former captain and club champion Daniel Toman from Sunbury.

Pound has been impressed by the buy-in of the new players.

“We have a lot of guys returning to the club that were juniors but we’ve also got some guys connected to myself or Melbourne-based players,” he said.

“Guys like Kyle Baker and Sam Medlands have fully bought in to what we’re trying to achieve and going above and beyond with their time for the club.

“We hope they can be long-term players for Woodend even if it’s not their junior club.”

Riley Paterson in action for Riddell. Picture: Hamish Blair

Samuel McCaskill (Melton), Wayne Patak (Sunshine), Jordan Reeves (Macedon) and Jordan Rizzardo (Sunshine) are the main departures.

Pound expects to debut seven or eight new players in the Good Friday clash against reigning premier Riddell.

Miles Miranda is the only player unavailable after injuring his ribs in a practice match against PEGS.

The Hawks have been working hard on bringing a new group together and Pound is looking forward to the challenge of facing the Bombers first up.

“I think it’s a really good thing, we want to put our best foot forward on Friday and why not do that against the best team in the competition,” he said.

“Our priority has been purely trying to gel a new group together and our practice matches have allowed us to see some flaws in our game style.

“Seeing those issues in the practice matches has allowed us to address them in these last few weeks of training.

“It was always going to be a challenge with seven or eight first-gamers to have that connection when you’re playing someone like Riddell, who’s core group has been playing together for some time.”

The Hawks face grand finalist Diggers Rest the following week before a bye.

Woodend-Hesket will be aiming for success in the inaugural Riddell District women’s competition this season too.

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The Hawks enter as premiership contenders after the club claimed the Youth Girls flag last season and reached the preliminary final in the Junior Girls competition.

The men and women trained together this week.

“We’re training Monday and Wednesday night, so we got to train on the same ground,” Pound said.

“It’s great watching them work on the craft and no doubt there will be more opportunities for us to cross paths and share resources because it’s a great thing for the club to have the women’s team in.”