VAFA 2020: Old Peninsula Football Club rejuvenated ahead of Division 1 season
Old Peninsula Football Club has a new name and motivation as it chases its first elusive premiership in the VAFA.
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A new name and a new era — but the Pirates are still “Old”.
Peninsula Old Boys footy club has ditched the “Boys” part of its name — it made sense now it has added a female side this season.
So, from 2020, Old Peninsula Football Club will continue chasing its first elusive premiership.
“Because we’re trying to align with the girls we didn’t want to be Old Boys,” club coach Nick Claringbold said.
“We didn’t think that was the right way to go, so there’s been a change of name.”
Meanwhile, Claringbold says his Pirates are in for a good season in Division 1.
After a heartbreaking finish to last season, when it lost the preliminary final after the siren in extra time, Old Peninsula has undergone a raft of changes and emerged rejuvenated, according to Claringbold.
“It’s been really refreshing,” he said.
“The footy club is a really great place to be at the moment.
“We’ve got 50 guys at training every night. It’s a really positive vibe after a bit of a tough old season.”
The departure of key players Sam Glenn, Jordan Pomeroy and Ash Collins to Karingal, and Will Harbinson to Dromana, was a blow to the Pirates.
“Yes, but we’ve kept some really good players as well,” Claringbold pointed out.
He said the emergence of a bunch of youngsters, including Ben Watson and Ben Pulsford, through the under-19s under former Box Hill Hawks official Geoff Carr would help the club.
And he said the continued development of young leaders Sam Harrison, Tom Feldgen, Alex Marshall and Blair Fletcher was exciting.
“They are the senior leaders really driving the standard. It’s really good to see,” Claringbold said.
“We’ve got some kids who no one has probably heard of and they spent a couple of years being coached by Geoff so they’re very savvy on modern footy.
“We’re confident — we know it’s going to take a little time to get there — but the educational side of the way we’re coaching is having a really positive impact and the boys are really buying into it.
“It’s a different way to train but it’s really starting to pay dividends.
“There will be some good sides but we are really confident, if we keep doing what we’re doing, we’re going to take some beating.”
Old Peninsula has also recruited Flynn Holt from Rosebud and James Bravo from Mt Eliza.
Season 2020 will be a significant one for the Pirates and their champion Shaun Payze, who will play his 400th senior game in the opening round before setting out after the all-time VAFA games record of 407.