RDFL 2019: VFL premiership player Mitch Jensen a top-class addition for Romsey

Footscray premiership player Mitch Jensen will add a harder edge to Romsey’s midfield as the club looks to reclaim its mantle as the Riddell District Football League’s premier club.

Mitch Jensen on the burst for EDFL club Essendon Doutta Stars. Picture: David Smith

Footscray premiership player Mitch Jensen will add a harder edge to Romsey’s midfield as the club looks to reclaim its mantle as the Riddell District Football League’s premier club.

Jensen, who featured in the Bulldogs’ VFL premiership side in 2014, has crossed to Romsey Park from Ovens and Murray club Wangaratta.

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Redbacks coach Corey O’Sullivan said Jensen was a player with “real footy smarts around the goals” who would add class in the middle and up forward.

“His evasive skills are as good as anyone I have seen of recent times and his skill set is really good,” O’Sullivan said.

“He’s only a lightly-framed fella but he has got some genuine toughness about him around the contest.

“We are pretty excited about what he will be able to add to our side.”

Mitch Jensen fires off a handball while playing for Footscray. Picture: Kylie Else

Romsey signing Mitch Jensen shows off his new colours.

Jensen is the third player with VFL experience to join Romsey this off-season after Joel Naylor (Northern Blues/Northern Knights) and Nathan Blair (Coburg) signed on.

“It’s not so much that they bring in a higher standard, it’s just that they help the standard with having greater numbers of that standard on the track,” O’Sullivan said.

“We do have a number of blokes who have had some VFL experience and been in those programs.

“They add a bit more depth to that standard.”

O’Sullivan is cautiously optimistic about the Redbacks’ prospects after they finished sixth last season before being bundled out in an elimination final by eventual premier Diggers Rest.

“I was optimistic about last season too, but we saw how that ended up,” he said.

“Optimism doesn’t really get you anywhere. We’re looking forward to the season starting. “The players have worked hard over the pre-season.

“You feel like you have done the training, done the work and you just want to be out there. “While we’re optimistic, we have seen the way our seasons have ended the last two years and we are certainly not going to get ahead of ourselves.”

Romsey has confirmed practice matches against EDFL club Sunbury Kangaroos (March 16) and Heathcote District side Colbinabbin (March 30) as it prepares for its season opener against Rupertswood on April 13.

The Redbacks won their most recent premiership in 2015.

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