Harper Sercombe
Following a disappointing season, the Hume City Broncos have identified the person to take their Big V championship women’s side forward.
Carey ‘Paps’ Papanicolau will take the reins of the team following a review of applicants for that role, by the club’s vice-president Glen Milner.
“Paps is a well credentialed coach who has enjoyed coaching success at the senior men’s and women’s levels,” Milner said.
“After a 2023 season disrupted by the mid-season resignation of our championship women’s coach, we were looking to appoint someone with strong leadership skills and a proven record of galvanising elite representative programs to realise their potential as genuine finals contenders.
“Paps ticks all those boxes and we’re anticipating a consistently strong competitive performance from our champion women in 2024.”
Papanicolau said he is excited to be coaching at the elite state champ level again.
He has been coaching division 2 side, the Wallan Panthers, the last few years.
“I’m excited to be part of a great organisation… I appreciate this opportunity the club is giving me and I’m looking forward to getting started on the challenges ahead,” he said.
The Broncos finished the season in sixth spot with six wins from their 21 games.
The Broncos will be back at training on November 18 under the watch of Papanicolau.
“We had a team meeting last week and we don’t want to change too much of the personnel of the team,” he said.
“They didn’t win many games last year, so we’ll just fill gaps where we need to, there’s a lot of good talent there.
“I’m really excited about that, and I’ll implement the game style that I like to play.
“We’ll probably try and keep the roster, fill the gaps with a few imports.
“We’ve got a good young group coming through in the youth league, but at this stage the team looks pretty good, unless a few players decide not to come back.
“We’ll make a decision then, but I’ll know more next week once we talk to the players and say where they’re at.”
The Broncos’ women’s youth league side won eight of its 22 games in 2023.
Brad Keighran will coach the side next year, after being assistant coach this year.
“Brad’s familiarity with our Victorian youth championship women (VYCW) playing group and junior Broncos program was a key consideration in giving him the opportunity to maintain a strong competitive presence in this development environment, especially with Big V’s February play in youth tournament to determine the composition of the VYCW and subordinate youth league grades,” Milner said.
