Key injuries count against Therry Penola as Lions slide back to VAFA Division 1

THERRY Penola coach Dennis Castaldi is confident the club will rebound quickly after its relegation from Premier C was confirmed on Saturday.

VAFA footy: Williamstown CYMS V Therry Penola. No 1 Paul Edwards for Therry. Picture: David Smith

THERRY Penola coach Dennis Castaldi is confident the club will rebound quickly after its relegation from Premier C was confirmed on Saturday.

The Lions’ 14.28 (112) to 13.11 (89) loss to Peninsula sealed their fate, sending them back to Division 1 alongside Penleigh Essendon Grammar School.

Castaldi said Therry Penola would have at least 4-5 players from its 2014 squad return next year as the Victorian Amateur Football Association outfit strives for a return to finals.

“We’ll be very competitive,” Castaldi said.

“We get probably 4-5 blokes back next year who have gone overseas who have just gone missing for a year. It’s just disappointing that we didn’t have them this year (but) that’s how it goes.”

Key injuries exposed a lack of depth at the Lions this year, with the loss of captain Jarrod Egglestone for six weeks and key forward Jarrod Bannister for a month conspiring against the club.

“The real positive out of this year has been we’ve played some under-19s who probably wouldn’t have got a look in if we had have had our full squad,” Castaldi said.

The Lions’ campaign finishes against PEGS on Saturday.

For more VAFA news, read Monday’s Moreland Leader.