LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER PREVIEW
After enduring a few seasons in the wilderness, things are looking on the right track at Leitchville-Gunbower.
They’ll be under the tutelage of a new general in experienced coach Shannon Keam, whose seasoned resume is perfect for the young list he’s adopted.
Keam knows how to build finals sides – he tasted premiership success at Moama in 2010 while also taking Cohuna and Robinvale to Grand Finals.
He’ll have a massive job to get to that point, though, with the Bombers winning only one game in the past two seasons.
It has, however, been a positive pre-season for the Bombers, with good numbers at training and Keam setting the standards expected of senior footballers.
“The brief of what we wanted to do over summer was getting guys on the track and build our depth, which I feel we’ve gone a long way to doing,” Keam said.
“The team hasn’t performed that well in the past couple of years, so it’s just about implementing a few simple things like requiring attendance at training to earn your spot in the side.”
There is an air of excitement on the track at the Bombers, with the majority of last season’s list re-signing, including reigning best and fairest ruckman Jobee Ward and leading goalkicker Billy Hawken.
They’ll be joined by a host of returning locals making the pilgrimage home.
“We wanted to get as many local blokes back to the club as possible,” Keam said.
“We’ve been able to do that, so it’s looking more likely by the week blokes will be fighting for their spots at selection.”
Highlighting the returning crop are the Keath brothers, Jye and Riley.
Former captain and best and fairest winner Jye heads home after being named in the West Gippsland Football League Team of the Year for Bunyip FC in 2022, whilst brother Riley joins after a runner-up in La Trobe Amateurs best and fairest last year.
“They both ooze leadership,” Keam said.
“The way Jye leads in his actions is exactly what we needed to raise the bar at training and hopefully gameday.
Another pair of brothers is set to help Keam, and his young group take strides forward, with Nick and Chris Horman joining in leadership roles from Kinglake.
Chris is a hardworking key forward who’ll take on a player-assistant coaching role, whilst Nick will oversee the next generation coaching the under-18s before utilising his skilful midfield talents in the seniors later in the day.
“It’s good to have a couple of older heads with a calming influence around the young guys – especially after they missed big development years during COVID.”
It isn’t all good news on the recruiting front, with the bulk of the 2022 season signings departing, including Leyton Shenfield (travel), Blake Azzopardi (Moulamein) and Sam Lewis (Strathmerton).
Whilst Keam was coy about detailing the brand of footy he’ll be implementing, he does foresee the midfield being the Bombers big area of improvement.
The addition of a couple hard running midfielders in, the returning Jim Brererton from Melbourne and signing Clay McGregor from Moama, will be huge for the Bombers.
“Our midfield rotation will have a lot more depth – we should be able to get ten guys through the guts this season,” he said.
“Bringing Jim back, Clay in and a few of the young blokes I’m expecting to step up will allow us to throw guys in there for 15 minutes and not have to go back to the well of the same guys.”
From The Coach
“It’s hard to set expectations in pre-season when you haven’t played a practice match yet. We’re just building and ensuring everyone’s doing the work – not just for round one but the whole year.”
Player To Watch
Jobee Ward, who joined the club from Echuca last season, immediately took the number one ruck spot and paid the Bombers back in droves. He won last season’s best and fairest and has reportedly been tearing it up on the track in pre-season.
Ins & Outs
IN: Chris Horman (Kinglake), Nick Horman (Kinglake), Tyler Jones (Cohuna), Brayden Nevett (Tongala), Kyle Hawken (Huntly), Dylan Hawken (Huntly) Riley Keath (La Trobe Amateurs), Jye Keath (Bunyip) Clay McGregor (Moama), Shelby Ludlow-Lambrick (Tongala), Hugh McGillivray (Newbridge), Tom McGillivray (returning) James Brereton (Banyule), Jaspar Wilson-Keir (Koondrook-Barham), Benny Smith (Huntly), Dylan Jardine (Moama), Mack Beadman (Timboon Demons).
OUT: Rhys Bradley (Coburg), Leyton Shenfield (Travel), Toby Duncan (Cohuna), Blake Azzopardi (Moulamein), Joel Regan, Sam Lewis (Strathmerton).
