Springvale Districts has a brand new midfield for 2023 season

Springvale Districts will have a new look to its line-up this season with a trio of recruits set to lift the club’s ability to match the Southern league’s best.

Springvale Districts will bear a new-look midfield in 2023 with a desire to compete with the top end of Division 1.

Demons’ coach Kris Thompson has brought in midfielders Dylan Quirk, Liam Giove and Nick Gay, as his side looks to improve its 8-10 2022 record.

After finishing sixth, Thompson felt as though if his group is to push for a finals berth, progress would need to arise at the source.

“Most Division 1 clubs have stars, whether it’s one or two, they have star midfielders,” Thompson said.

“We didn’t really have that last year, so we knew that was an area that we had to improve – all our stats indicated towards that as well.

“Being able to compete with the best midfields, like Dingley, Cheltenham, Cranbourne, any level of local footy they’re good midfields.

“We have to be able to compete with them, first and foremost, and then that’ll hold us in better stead when we go forward with the footy.”

Springvale Districts coach Kris Thompson. Picture: AAP.

Another stat which surfaced for the Demons was their inability to kick a big score, averaging just 71 points for a game last season.

While the addition of Matt Wetering – who will return from a season in Collingwood’s VFL program – certainly helps, Thompson is assured that scoring begins deeper than the ability to finish.

“You have to improve on all lines to improve your scoring, it’s not as easy as putting Matt Wetering back in the forward line” he said.

“We have to win more footy, more clearances, our midfield will have improved a lot.

“It will be a completely new-look midfield with a new ruckman, so it starts in there.

“With our ball movement and the way we want to play, we will have to adapt to the way we have recruited.”

Matt Wetering has returned to the club. Photo: Kelly Defina/AFL Photos/Getty Images.

After kicking 12 goals in seven matches for Collingwood, including a five-goal haul against Gold Coast, Thompson outlined why Wetering made such a swift return to the club.

“We probably had to twist his arm to go and do it in the first place,” he explained.

“He enjoyed the experience, but the demands for VFL and the system is probably not up his alley.

“I am proud that he’s done it, he enjoyed it, but he’s probably more suited to local footy.

“He’s another option going forward, he takes a great mark, super quick; with him, Ty Vickery and Daniel Helmore, it gives us multiple scoring options.”

Springvale Districts has an upcoming practice match against Mornington before hosting Mordialloc on April 15.