WRFL: Sunshine unveil 13 signings including Tom Mundy and Hisham Kerbatieh

Sunshine has continued to turn over its playing list under coach Heath Scotland with the arrival of 13 new faces but that hasn’t been the biggest positive of the off-season.

The changing of the guard is continuing at Sunshine.

The Roos have confirmed the arrival of 13 new senior faces ahead of the Western Region league season as coach Heath Scotland continues to rejuvenate a playing list which has experienced a “high turnover” since his arrival.

But the recruitment has been boosted by the re-establishment of an under 18s side, a move Scotland described as “critical”.

Hisham Kerbatieh and Tom Mundy, who have VFL experience with Coburg and Williamstown respectively, headline the club’s signings with both players committed to local footy full-time in 2022.

Tasmanian product Ethan Jackson (Werribee) and Tom Hofert (Port Melbourne), who played for the Gold Coast Suns, have nominated Sunshine as their home club.

Queensland has also been a happy hunting ground for Scotland and his coaching staff in the off-season with the arrivals of Ethan Sivijs — a former member of the Simon Black Academy — and Jack Briskey.

“We’ve turned over the list quite a lot since I’ve been at the club,” Scotland said.

“The playing group is very different to the one which played in a grand final in 2017. We brought in 10 new guys last year and we’ve been able to retain seven of those for this season.

“It will be fantastic to have Hisham and Tom full-time because they’ll add terrific experience and quality to our playing group.

“We’re not sure how often we will have Ethan and Tom but we’ve already seen their quality players.”

Thirteen new players have arrived at Kinder Smith Reserve.

Ali Saad and Adeola Akintola are two young guys who have crossed from the Essendon District league as they take some of their first steps in senior footy.

They’ll be joined by Nick Coulstock, Stephen Drake and Jack Ballantyne who have made the move from the Goulburn Valley.

Taygen Dennison and Lachie Williams have been named as the clubs other recruits.

“We’re pretty pleased with the group we’ve been able to put together,” Scotland said.

“We want to be a club where plays want to come and play first division football.”

Ethan Jackson is aligned to Werribee in the VFL. Picture: Zak Simmonds

This year the Roos will also field an under 18s side for the first time since the 2019 season.

“Not having that age group has been difficult,” Scotland said.

“In recent years we’ve been trying to convert people in our region to play footy which means we’ve been starved of natural talent of players between 14 and 22.

“Homegrown talent is a massive thing in local footy because it is so costly and demanding to bring in young guys from other clubs.”

Sunshine will host Hoppers Crossing in the first game of the season on April 2.

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