VAFA 2018: Old Paradians savour promotion despite grand final loss
CAPTAIN Chris Kandilakis says Old Paradians can “definitely” be competitive when it is promoted to VAFA Division 1 next year.
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CAPTAIN Chris Kandilakis says Old Paradians can “definitely” be competitive when it is promoted to VAFA Division 1 next year.
The Raiders secured their elevation by qualifying for this season’s Division 2 grand final, which they lost to UHS-VU by 55 points, 14.17 (101) to 6.10 (46).
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Kandilakis said the defeat had not taken the gloss off a season in which the club won its first 14 matches to establish itself as a premiership contender.
“Promotion is the main thing you want to get out of the season, especially after losing a prelim the previous year,” Kandilakis said.
“It’s a good result for the club. The players wanted to win the flag more than anything, but UHS are a very good side and they were better than us on the day and probably the most deserving team for the year.”
Old Paradians was relegated from Division 1 in 2016 after finishing ninth, but improved from a fourth-placed finish last year to secure a double chance under coach Ryan Smith.
“We had a better list this year and just knowing we had made it last year, anything less would have been a bit of a failure, I suppose,” Kandilakis said.
“We probably overachieved a bit last year, in saying that though.”
The absence of first-choice ruckman Jake Plunkett in the decider hurt, however centre-half-forward William Gilmore battled manfully in the centre square.
Kandilakis said Plunkett, Byron Walton and Marcus Nolan were likely to vie for the Raiders’ best and fairest after enjoying consistent campaigns.
Old Paradians’ skipper expects UHS-VU, which won 16 successive matches to claim the premiership, to be a flag threat again next year.
“I reckon they will be right up there as one of the better ones in D1,” he said.
“We were pretty competitive with them throughout the year.
“We’ll need to get a couple of good recruits, which I think there’s a good chance for that. Definitely (we can) be competitive in D1, that’s for sure.”
Kandilakis said he was unsure if Smith would continue as coach, adding the club could lose “one or two” senior players due to retirement.
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