RDFL 2019: Woodend-Hesket primed for finals push
WOODEND-HESKET is confident it has developed a list capable of challenging for a top-four finish in the Riddell District Football League as it targets a long-awaited finals return.
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WOODEND-HESKET is confident it has developed a list capable of challenging for a top-four finish in the Riddell District Football League as it targets a long-awaited finals return.
The Hawks enjoyed one of their best seasons since claiming their most recent RDFL premiership in 2007 this year, finishing seventh with an 8-8 record.
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The club has finished between seventh and 12th in the past eight years, winning 36 of its 132 matches during that period.
But there is a renewed sense of optimism at Gilbert Gordon Oval after a team led by first-year coach Tom Carland stayed in finals contention for much of this season and toppled eventual premier Diggers Rest in Round 6.
“I think it would be a bit of a (failure) if we didn’t make it next year,” Carland said.
“It depends what other clubs have done, but that’s what we are aiming to achieve and I think we have gone out and done enough in the recruiting to make sure we get there.
“Injuries can change (that) but there’s no reason why I don’t think we can’t finish in the top four.
“There’s some pretty strong teams in there and we are going to have to knock a couple off.”
Leading goalkicker Tom Gawthrop emerged as a genuine matchwinner after shifting from defence to attack, booting 55 goals in 16 matches.
While fellow key forward Alistair Rae (39 goals) was a standout in his first season in brown and gold, Carland identified the need to add greater depth to the club’s big-man stocks.
The Woodend-Hesket coach hopes the signing of experienced tall Marcus Stapleton, an EDFL premiership player with Strathmore, will help the Hawks emerge as a flag contender.
“He’s probably going to play a fair of ruck for us but can swing forward,” Carland said. “Last (season) we were stuck at times if Al had to go into the ruck a lot or if we put (Gawthrop) down back.
“Our forward line just didn’t have the height or the firepower there.”
Dual best and fairest winner Daniel Toman, Ben Toman, Rae and Gawthrop have put pen to paper as marquee re-signings for 2019.
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