Belmont Lions ready for season opener against Winchelsea in GDFL

It is a new era at Belmont under co-coaches Andy Walsgott and Brent Vermeulen, with the former St Albans star ready for the 2023 season in new colours.

GDFL season launch Football and Netball Football captains . From Left Back Row : Brent Vermeulen Belmont , vice captain Tim McLennan East Geelong , Jack Yates Bell Post Hill , Jack Fiolet Inverleigh ,Zac Schwennesen Nth Geelong , Josh Viney and Justin Carey Geelong West Giants , Daryl Chesterman Werribee centrals. From Left Front Row :Travis McGuire Thomson , Joel Bennett Corio , Tristan Battaglia Bannockburn , Mason Rhodes Anakie , Tom Stephenson and Brenton Rees Winchelsea , Picture: Mark Wilson

NEW Belmont co-coach Brent Vermeulen says it has been “a lot easier” to step into a coaching role than he initially thought, with the Lions set to begin its new campaign against Winchelsea.

The former Supersaint in the GFL is returning to his junior club and said he wanted to build the Lions into a contender alongside co-coach Andy Walsgott.

“Being a returning player, it’s always good to be back where you started your junior career and your football journey, so to be preparing for round one is pretty exciting,” he said.

GDFL season launch Football and Netball Football Captain. Brent Vermeulen. BelmontPicture: Mark Wilson

“So far the coaching side of things has honestly been a lot easier than I thought it was going to be, everyone was trying to scare me off a bit in regards to coaching but I think with Andy as well at the helm, we’re on the same page with how we want to coach so that definitely helps.

“We had a sit down before pre-season, before we even took on the coaching role, and figured out a game plan that we both wanted and it was pretty similar so it’s good to have that same game style and how we want the game to be played.”

Belmont finished eighth in the GDFL last season, but Vermeulen said the club was ready to push for finals.

“I know we’ve got a lot of talent at the club, so it’s just getting everyone firing on all cylinders and getting everyone there and playing their best footy,” he said.

“I’m not really setting anything, playing wise, for myself personally, I want to just come back and enjoy my football at my old club.

“But we want to really build a great culture of winning here, we want to be playing finals and we think we’ve got a great list to be able to do that.”

Originally published as Belmont Lions ready for season opener against Winchelsea in GDFL