VAFA: Therry Penola coach Dean Rioli praises club’s depth after strong start to Division 1 season

THERRY Penola coach Dean Rioli has praised the impact of the club’s fringe players after being forced to draw on the Lions’ depth in the opening five weeks of the VAFA campaign.

Therry Penola has made a strong start to its first season under coach Dean Rioli. Picture: Mark Wilson

THERRY Penola coach Dean Rioli has praised the impact of the club’s fringe players after being forced to draw on the Lions’ depth in the opening five weeks of the VAFA campaign.

The Lions have used 30 players to Round 5, with key forward Jarrod Bannister and former AFL on-baller Jordan Bannister only featuring once.

Despite juggling the magnets at selection each week, Rioli has steered Therry Penola to a 4-1 start in his first year at the helm.

“The biggest positive is that we know there’s so much improvement in the group and we have players to return,” Rioli said.

“To get these early wins with so many unavailable players is definitely a positive.”

Rioli predicted the Lions would be close to full strength for the first time this season when they host Prahran Assumption in Round 7.

Mitchell Trimble (striking) and Daniel McCracken (unreasonable rough conduct) both received two-match bans at the tribunal last week and will miss the club’s clash with unbeaten Hampton Rovers on Saturday.

Rioli said leading goalkicker Corey Bannister would also be managed, leaving Jarrod Bannister and Darcy Ryan as the club’s twin targets up forward.

Jordan Bannister is closing in on a return after breaking his hand in the club’s Round 1 victory over Ivanhoe.

Rioli said the club’s matches against finals contenders Hampton, Prahran Assumption and Ormond between rounds six and eight would “give us some intel on where we really sit”.

“At times we have had eight players unavailable from our best 25. Quality players too,” he said.

“These are quality players that make a huge difference in the make-up of our side.

“It’s great to see how our fringe players who are getting game time … these guys have done very well for the club.”

Jarrod Egglestone has made an outstanding start to the season, named in Therry Penola’s best players in each of its first five matches.

Jacob Gough, Daniel Tadinac and Jonathan Mullins have been other strong contributors.

“The real challenge going to a new club is to get the player buy-in,” Rioli said.

“The players have bought in to exactly what we are wanting to set.”