ST Arnaud will look towards this season with hope that they can get off the bottom two spots of the ladder and lift up towards the higher positions.
With the number of quality of players they have picked over the summer break, their dreams could become a reality.
The Saints first picked up two-time AFL premiership winning player, Josh Caddy.
The former Gold Coast Suns, Geelong Cats and Richmond Tigers player who retired from professional football in 2022 will return to country football with a lot of football knowledge to guide the Saints forward.
St Arnaud senior coach Scott Driscoll explains that Josh Caddy has family connections with the club which is how they managed to lure him into the Saints.
“Yeah, Josh Caddy has some family connections in St Arnaud, so we were fortunate to have him play the one-off game last year,” Driscoll said.
“He was keen to play again, he kept a close eye on the team and how they have been tracking.
“So yeah he was keen to sign with the club.”
St Arnaud have also brought in former VFL player Darby Schilder, who featured with the Geelong Cats and Werribee Tigers.
He was with the Geelong Falcons along with being captain for St Joseph’s when they won the Herald Sun Shield back in 2016 on the hallowed turf of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
With the ability to play in almost any position on the field, he will be a player to definitely keep an eye out for.
Geelong Falcons midfielders Sean Holroyd and Baden Remmos will also join the Saints this season. Keep an eye out for those two tearing it up.
St Arnaud have also picked up other players such as Jay Kirwood from St Joeys, Max Hungerford from Geelong Amateur, and Ash Livingston who is making a return to football after having break to travel.
Scott’s plan for the Saints this season is for them to be more consistent and more competitive.
“Our goal is to definitely stay consistent and to reduce some quarters where we are scored heavily against,” Driscoll said.
“We had opportunities to win games in the second half of the season, but we didn’t have the confidence.
“So we are all looking towards getting more wins and even potentially making finals.”
ST ARNAUD FAST FOOTY FACTS
JOINED LEAGUE: 1930
GROUND: Lord Nelson Park
PREMIERSHIPS: 11 (1930, 1932, 1933,1934, 1948, 1958,1978,1988, 1998,1999, 2015)
PRESIDENT: Bruce Hando
SENIOR COACH: Scott Driscoll
2024 LADDER POSITION :9th
2024 BEST & FAIREST: Mitch Egan
2024 LEADING GOAL KICKER: Torin Petrie (15 goals)
FROM THE COACH
“Our best footy is competitive, we only lack the constituency to play on all four quarters.
“We also want to stay hungry in games for longer.
“We will have the focus on what we do, we won’t be too caught up on what other teams are doing.
“We will just one what we can do internally.”
PLAYER TO WATCH
All 21 players:
“The way I coach is about roleplay, I wouldn’t say that there is necessarily a key player.
“Of course we are fortunate enough to have our big man of Zach Phillips.
“He is competitive and gives the midfielders some good use.
” Our best and fairest Mitch Egan, who had a breakout year, will be hoping to be consistent again this year.”
Player ins & outs
INS
Josh Caddy (Richmond Tigers, Port Melbourne Colts)
Darby Schilder (Geelong VFL, Melton South)
Baden Remmos (Geelong Falcons, Winchelsea)
Ash Livingston
Jay Kirwood (St Josephs)
Max Hungerford (Geelong Amateur)
OUTS
Ryan Lempa (East Geelong)
Tyson Funston (South Barwon)
NETBALL
ST ARNAUD will look towards building the team and hope to have a stronger season ahead.
The Saints only managed one win last season, Dylan Perri is planning on building the team for this season.
“Yeah we were building last season, probably not the results we wanted last season,” Perri admitted
“But we are building for this season, we were happy with our form, not just the results itself.
“But pre-season has been looking good for us.”
