University Blacks banks on emerging stars to fill the void left by its 2014 premiership heroes

SEVERAL premiership heroes have departed University Blacks since Cam Roberts last coached the Victorian Amateur Football Association club.

VAFA football: University Blacks V University Blues. No 5 Huw Lacey for Blacks. Picture: David Smith

SEVERAL premiership heroes have departed University Blacks since Cam Roberts last coached the Victorian Amateur Football Association club.

Adam Pattison, Huw Lacey and Peter O’Rourke are among those who have moved on from the team that beat Collegians in the 2014 Premier Division decider to snap a 40-year flag drought.

Roberts, who has returned to the top job after stepping aside last year, said Uni Blacks would employ a similar style to the one that drove them to premiership glory in 2016.

“We’re a bit of the unknown to be honest because we have lost a few and brought in a couple,” Roberts said.

“The squad is not much different to what it was last year.

“Our expectation is firstly to win enough games to avoid relegation.

“Once we knock that one off the list it’s about positioning for finals if we’re in ­(contention).”

Roberts said the club had not chased big-name recruits after finishing fifth on the table in 2015.

Former Northern Football League best and fairest Lochie Dornauf, who has crossed from Wangaratta Rovers in the Ovens and Murray league, headlines Uni Blacks’ list of ­inclusions.

“Lochie will be a good player for us. He spent the last two years playing in the Ovens and Murray, which is a good comp,” Roberts said.

“He’s coached at a young age as well. For a young guy, he’s probably more advanced than somebody his own age.

“He’s a ball of energy.”

Roberts admitted replacing the experience the club had lost in recent years would be a difficult task.

“Since the 2014 premiership we’ve lost a bit of experience with O’Rourke, Lacey, (Jesse) Laurie and Patto, those sorts of guys.

“There’s still a core group with (Angus) Drysdale, (Bede) Mahon, (Simon) Hogan and (Adam) Pitt. We’re not as experienced as what we have been in the past. We’re reliant on that next group coming through.”

He said Angus Locke and Brent Sheahan were players the club hoped would take another step this year.

Roberts said the club would look to several players to fill former AFL ruckman Pattinson’s role after he moved to Old Paradians.

“From a positional perspective it’s probably multiple players but you can’t really replace his experience,” he said.

Uni Blacks start their campaign against Collegians on Saturday, April 9.