VAFA 2018: No scars remain from relegation season for St Bernard’s

PREMIERSHIP coach Mark Riley says St Bernard’s will have no scars from its last season in the VAFA top flight as it prepares to return to Premier Division.

St Bernards coach Mark Riley addresses his players during the VAFA Premier B grand final. Picture: David Crosling

PREMIERSHIP coach Mark Riley says St Bernard’s will have no scars from its last season in the VAFA top flight as it prepares to return to Premier Division.

The Snowdogs were relegated to Premier B in 2016, finishing three games adrift of safety, one season after they ended a 13-year premiership wait.

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St Bernard’s went 5-13 in Riley’s first year at the helm, unable to rescue its season after only winning one of its opening 10 matches.

While some players from that side will be part of the Snowdogs’ team next year, Riley said the club was well-placed to make an impact on its return to Premier Division.

“There’s a lot of improvement in that group that was, as shown on grand final day, respectfully and humbly the best team in B Grade by quite a margin,” he said.

St Bernard’s hammered Old Carey by 83 points in the Premier B decider, an emphatic end to a season during which it won 18 of its 20 games.

Charlie Vague launches St Bernard’s into attack during the Premier B decider. Picture: David Crosling

“They certainly proved themselves as a good football team that played a wonderful, selfless brand of footy this year,” Riley said.

“There’s probably half a dozen players left from that disappointing year of relegation.

“That’s not a driver. Going forward, we will set pretty strong … aspirations.”

Riley, a former AFL assistant coach, said the club needed to add further depth to its list to push the VAFA’s best clubs in 2019.

“Nine new players played in the premiership team of 2018 (from those who) played in the losing preliminary final in 2017,” he said.

“That’s a significant change in personnel in 12 months.

“We had a lot of depth this year in comparison to 2017, but we will need more depth going up a grade.”

Flag-winning captain Simon Caven, 2015 Woodrow medallist Adam Bentick and grand final best on ground Tom Sullivan are among the proven Premier performers in St Bernard’s talented squad.

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