VFL 2019: Coburg chasing resilient recruits to be part of senior squad for next season
Resilience has been the key trait Coburg has been searching for as it bolsters its playing stocks for the 2019 VFL campaign.
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Resilience has been the key trait Coburg has been searching for as it bolsters its playing stocks for the 2019 VFL campaign.
The Lions have announced five signings for next season — Tyson Old (Northcote Park/Essendon VFL), Tom Simpson (Hurstbridge/Essendon VFL), Liam Whelan (Old Trinity/North Melbourne VFL), Tom Meagher (Upper Ferntree Gully) and Matthew Harman (Northern Blues/West Preston-Lakeside).
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Coach Leigh Adams said he had targeted players prepared to battle through “some pretty tough times”.
Coburg finished bottom of the VFL ladder in Adams’ first campaign in charge with a 1-16-1 record.
“We just want blokes that are really selfless in the role they play and are there for the right reasons — to help our footy club,” he said.
“For them to have an opportunity to play at the highest level they can and hopefully further, but also help our footy club. Not just there on pure talent.
“They are there because they have done the hard yards and deserve an opportunity.”
Adams said he hoped to foster an environment where players embraced being part of one of the few remaining stand-alone clubs.
“One of our real strengths being a stand-alone club is we have got a real football club atmosphere,” he said.
“We can get blokes that love the footy club. If we can get as many blokes like that on to our list, that’s a really good starting point.”
The Lions have farewelled a host of senior players, including captain Tom Goodwin (Port Melbourne), vice-captain Nathan Blair (Romsey) and Ben Allan (Pascoe Vale), but Adams said they were in a healthier position than this time last year.
The ex-North Melbourne on-baller said the benefits of an early pre-season camp to Corowa had been evident.
“We thought it was really good to get away as early as possible to build those relationships and blokes that are going to be playing a fair bit of footy together,” he said.
“We did it in February last (season) and we thought it was probably a wasted opportunity to get away earlier in the year to get to know each other and see where blokes are at.
“We have got a squad of upwards of 60 at the moment that we need to cut down to 40.
“To be able to put blokes in some pretty taxing situations and see how they came through that was really good as well, to see if we think those blokes are up to VFL footy at the moment.”
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