SFNL: Zach Horsley aims to implement a new element to Dingley

There will be a different look to Dingley’s forward line and game style in 2023 as the club aims to maintain its expectations. Here’s what’s changed.

SFL (division 1) footy: East Malvern v Dingley. Marcus Freeman. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Recently appointed Dingley coach Zach Horsley will administer an element of controlled chaos when he guides his new outfit this season.

While the Dingoes will field a young and exciting group that have the artillery for obliterating attack, Horsley is encouraging his group to adjust its style and adopt a sense of control with possession.

“I think Dingley’s problem, in my opinion, last year was that they were a bit out of control and played too fast, I am a little bit different, I am more of a ball in hand sort of coach,” he said.

“You need your assets of speed once you have play on your terms but securing that first possession and getting control is really important.

“Once we find the field opening up, that’s when we can use those young players and that speed.”

Continuing on from previously successful coaches Danny Ades and Shane Morwood, Horsley is faced with the challenge of remaining successful while developing the club’s future stars.

He is confident he can accomplish the task at hand without disrupting the proven recipe.

“It’s pretty much coming in and developing a new landscape, a new way to drive Dingley forward,” Horsley explained.

“With Shane Morwood and Danny (Ades), they had some really successful times and a lot of wins, but the age group was getting a bit older and they’ve got a really good young group of kids.

“I’ll be making sure those kids keep coming through and putting a focus on the junior footy club as well, there’s some great kids down there.

“It’s not about restarting or regenerating, but about making sure we can continue that success through younger players getting opportunity.”

Dingley will be without Justin Van Unen. Picture: Valeriu Campan

With Justin Van Unen (43 goals in 2022) departing at the conclusion of last season, Dingley has made a modification to its front six.

While Horsley expects more out of Rory Goldsmith, Michael Dolan and Rory Wallace in 2023, he believes the addition of Tom Morecroft – who kicked 59 goals in the Victorian Amateur Football Association last year – will also intensify the unpredictable potency.

“They might not be huge names in the Southern footy league, but they will play huge roles for us as long as we get our system right in front of the football,” he said.

“There’s probably a bit of unpredictability in the forward line, (Justin) Van Unen and Dan Farmer were pretty strong focal points.

“For us, it’s where do we get our goals from and how do we get them, we’ve got a plan in place to do that – we have been practicing on that a lot throughout pre-season.

“We have had really strong numbers (at training); I think we had nine or 10 sessions pre-Christmas and were able to get a lot of learnings in there.

“I feel like as far as our structure goes, it’s going to be super strong in compared to other clubs that haven’t done as much work.

“I think we’re going to be in a position where we have done the work and we’re ready to go.”

The Dingoes will begin their season with trips to Cheltenham and Cranbourne.