Victorian Amateur Football Association: Old Carey loses players but rumours are exaggerated
Old Carey has lost players ahead of its demotion to Premier B but the club says talk of it being on its last legs is greatly exaggerated.
Local Footy
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Old Carey president Jeremy Dickson has been quick to quash bubbling rumours that a player exodus will result in the Panthers struggling to field sides in Premier B this season.
While there have been a number of departures, Dickson said he was happy to put a line through the doom and gloom of the rumour mill.
“We’ve dropped the thirds,” he said, adding that a list of just 10 made fielding that side a little too difficult. “Rather than chasing guys every week to play in the threes.
“You’re making a financial commitment to the VAFA and you have a responsibility to other clubs in terms of fixturing.
“We would love to have the thirds and we are invested in having thirds. I expect they’ll be back up and running in 2021.”
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Dickson said the Panthers had lost a number of senior players ahead of its return to the second tier this season.
“We got relegated after a very tough season in Premier,” he said. “And some of the older guys, their commitment waned a bit and we lost a number of players to country clubs. Of the 20 players that finished up, only one player transferred to another VAFA club.
“We lost a lot of guys to country footy for outrageous money.
“It’s a bit of wheels turning kind of thing, instead of players coming to the city to play, they are starting to go the other way.”
When it became apparent that many players were contemplating a move Dickson said the club was quick to act.
“It may have been overstated, but I put out a call to arms on our private facebook content,” he said.
The president said that message had been leaked, making things look far worse than they were for the club.
“We’re probably a bit over-subscribed in the 19s and seconds,” he said. “We have about 65 players. But like all VAFA clubs you’re aware that you lose players mid-season to European trips.”
Simon Pasinati will take the coaching reins this season bringing a lengthy CV that includes time in the VFL system with Casey and the Northern Blues. He was also a member of the West Preston Lakeside coaching team that took the Roosters to the NFL Division 1 flag after an 0-6 start to the season.
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