SFNL 2019: Proud Murrumbeena determined to atone for last year’s straight-sets finals exit
Murrumbeena coach Paul Howroyd senses a deep desire from his players to make up for last year’s straight-sets exit as the Lions hunt their first premiership since 2003.
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How has Murrumbeena champion Luke James been progressing in the pre-season?
“Quietly,’’ Lions coach Paul Howroyd said with a chuckle.
But he knows that come Round 1 James will be “ready to go’’ — and ready to kick the miraculous goals and take the spectacular marks that make him such a crowd-pleasing player in the Southern league.
The veteran left-footer was in rare form for the Lions last season, booting 65 goals from 14 matches, including a bag of nine against Highett in the qualifying final. Six came in the first quarter.
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He followed up with four against Keysborough, including one from the goal square when he was flat on his back.
Howroyd, one of the most decorated coaches in Southern in the past 15 years, said James was among the most exciting players he had coached.
“He’s a freak, a natural,’’ he said.
“He’s a player everyone will miss when he eventually retires. People will talk about him for years. Star of a bloke and a star of a player.
“We’ll have to make sure he’s cherry-ripe when we most need him.’’
Despite James’s heroics the Beena lost both finals, and their 100th year of football went from promising to disappointing.
Howroyd senses a deep desire from his players to make up for the straight-sets exit.
“We’re pretty flat about it, no question about that,’’ he said.
“We thought we were a chance but we weren’t good enough come that time of the year. We had too many injuries. We weren’t quite right, but you can’t blame that. We lost two games all year and to blow out in the finals … the boys are pretty hungry to fix that up.’’
They will have to do it without two-time Division 1 league medallist Liam Wilson and fellow veteran Mark Marasco. Both have retired.
Howroyd said Wilson had been a fine player in Southern and the club was keen to have him involved on match days.
The Lions’ recruits include twins Nick and Fintan Brazil from Bendigo league club Kyneton, Wade King from Benalla, former Port Melbourne VFL-listed tall Matt Lello and East Brighton Division 1 premiership player Nathan Stewart.
Howroyd said Lello and Stewart could play at both ends of the ground.
“They’re probably both backmen but would could swing them forward as tall targets,’’ he said.
Howroyd said he was expecting Division 2 to be a strong competition this year, particularly with the return of Springvale Districts.
“The top sides are really committed to getting to Divvy 1 so they recruit hard, they play hard and they’re really competitive,’’ he said.
“It’s serious business.’’
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