A reinvigorated Roxburgh Park will take to the field in Essendon District Football League division 2 this season.
After a number of off season changes, including the naming of a new coach, there’s plenty of excitement at the club.
New senior coach Michael Farrelly said the club was determined to put last season behind it and focus on the future.
Last season, the reserves won a premiership, but the senior side missed finals for the first time in a number of years.
“Coming in as a new coach, I haven’t had to motivate anyone,” Farrelly said.
“There’s been a few changes off field and everyone wants to come back.
“There’s myself, two new presidents who have stood up to share the role and pretty much a new committee.
“There’s more sponsors on board and we have a new head trainer and two new assistant coaches and a new director of coaching.”
Farrelly said the club re-signed all its senior players and then set about adding the missing pieces – including height and goal scoring.
Experienced ruckman Ferras Merhi has joined the Magpies, along with Sammy Saad, who kicked 50 goals in eight games last season for Hadfield.
Luke Capuano has returned to the club where he has played most of his football.
Capuano led the division 2 goalkicking in 2016 while playing with the Magpies, before playing in Glenroy’s division 1 premiership last year.
Farrelly said it was encouraging to see several past players had returned to the club.
“We’ll put our best foot forward and do the best we can with a small budget,” he said.
“Hopefully, we’ll have a couple more signings in the next few weeks.
“It speaks a lot about the culture and character of the club that guys want to come back and play here.”
Farrelly said he had been impressed with how the playing group had been performing on the training track.
He said there would be a few new faces in the leadership group, including some of the younger players.
Farrelly said Travis Cooke, along with the McLarty brothers, Brandon and Brock, had been some of the younger players standing up in training.
The Magpies will kick off their season on April 7 against Northern Saints.
They will have two practice matches before then and a players camp this weekend.
