SFNL: St Kilda City has welcomed back some old heroes and appointed new coach

St Kilda City has been lifted by a collection of former stars as well as the appointment of its new coach. See the latest.

Picture : George Sal

The troops have rallied.

At its crisis meeting on Tuesday night, St Kilda City welcomed back a string of 2009 and 2010 premiership players to raise the club for the remainder of the season.

Among the 12 returnees is star player Jay Bruno, 2001 JJ Liston Trophy winner Ezra Poyas and former captain Gary Johnstone.

The Saints also promoted Vinnie Turcinovich to fill the role of senior coach, which was recently left vacant by Simon Goosey.

Turcinovich said the meeting was “exciting” for City as it turned towards a more positive immediate future.

“In the true spirit of St Kilda City, the past players, the premiership players, probably 12 or more come down last night and had a chat to the group,” he said.

“They were similar to the young guys we have at St Kilda City now, they’re juniors coming through, they’re a really tight knit group.

“The energy and enthusiasm they have every time, win, draw or lose, they’re up beat.

“Past president and a couple of players got up and had a spill, and they’re more than happy to help out for the next eight games.

“It was exciting – we wanted to make sure we had two sides and with 12 inclusions, maybe a few more, we will definitely fill two sides for the rest of the year.”

Vinnie Turcinovich previously coached in the WRFL. Picture: Josie Hayden

While there will be an injection of experienced heads, Turcinovich said there remains a very young and inexperienced core.

His goal for the rest of the year is to release the shackles from the baby-faced Saints and encourage them to make footy fun again.

“They still think they’re 21, so it will be interesting to see how they go,” he said of the older players.

“We have a really young group and with some older heads and experienced heads, you just never know.

“I am optimistic, it is what it is, the main goal for me is to get the boys excited about the rest of the year and guide them into senior footy, excite them for a big pre-season.

“We were too stop-start, stop-start, we will move the ball a bit quicker, I will encourage them to play with more freedom.

“I think the younger boys were, I guess, threatened a little bit by the experience of the AFL boys, too scared to play their natural game.

“Identifying that as a coach and getting them to play with freedom, they have a license from me to take the game on.”

Chewy Scanlon and Shem Tatupu will remain at the Saints. Picture : George Sal

Paul ‘Chewy’ Scanlon will captain the side while star ruckman Shem Tatupu, who many believe to be a front runner for the Southern league medal, will remain at the club.

Turcinovich was immensely proud of the two for sticking true to the Saints.

“Shem and Scanlon, look, jeez we stand a bit taller (with them), and these young kids really look up to them,” he said.

“If we didn’t want to lose one player in the whole group it would’ve been Shem.

“I think it’s going to be amazing for him (Tatupu) to stand up a little more, if you can even say that, after the fantastic season he has had.

“The boys stand taller next to him, I think the boys will grow with confidence around him, (he is) an amazing man, to do that, knowing where we are, it shows his character. Amazing.”

At this point in time, Turcinovich is coaching just the remainder of the year but is “keen” to take the top job on in 2024.

St Kilda City take on Springvale Districts this Saturday.