West Gippsland football: Cora Lynn adds 10 recruits ahead of 2025 season
Competition for spots will be fierce at Cora Lynn in 2025, with the Cobras bringing in 10 recruits from the Mornington Peninsula, Outer East, Eastern and Southern leagues.
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The Cobras will have even more venom this year.
Cora Lynn has brought in a raft of new players ahead of the 2025 West Gippsland season, intensifying competition for spots in the senior side.
Narre Warren premiership players Jordy and Matty Butera have joined the Cobras — Jordy, 19, was part of the Magpies’ senior flag win last season and Matt was best-on-ground in the twos’ grand final victory.
Josh Black (Frankston YCW), Harrison Paul (Langwarrin/Carrum Patterson Lakes), Mark Banham (Tyabb), Dylan Di Vincenzo (Karingal), Kane Williams (Frankston YCW) and Nicholas Pastras (Berwick) are also among the signings.
“We’ve brought a whole lot of depth in, there’s about nine or 10,” Cora Lynn coach Shaun Sparks said.
“So we’ve had a bit of a list turnover in our development team…I think it’s going to put a lot of pressure for spots on players 16 to 22 in that senior team.
“Guys who want opportunity and want a fresh start, we can offer that to them.”
Cora Lynn finished on top of the ladder last season but was beaten by eventual premiers Nar Nar Goon in the preliminary final.
Cobras spearhead Nathan Gardiner had a superb 2024 season, kicking 104 goals, while Jimmy Munro and Bill Thomas were stand outs.
Sparks said, five months on, the players were keen and hungry.
“We’ve had 55 to 60 on the track and that’s only reserves and seniors,’’ he said.
“Hopefully it can pay off long term for us.”
Cora Lynn’s training is set to go up a notch or two, with a joint training program with MPFNL club Pines to be held over the next two Thursdays.
The clubs will play match sim at the Cobradome.
“It’s almost the equivalent of practice games,” Sparks said.
CORA LYNN
IN: Mark Banham (Tyabb), Jordan Butera (Narre Warren), Matthew Butera (Narre Warren), Josh Black (Frankston YCW), Dylan Di Vincenzo (Karingal), Harrison Paul (Carrum Patterson Lakes), Kane Williams (Frankston YCW), Nicholas Pastras (Berwick).
OUT: Thomas Stiglich (Berwick Springs)
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