PROFILE
After claiming the dreaded wooden spoon last season, Calivil United have turned to a familiar face to resurrect their club in 2023.
After a disastrous two-win season and the departure of senior coach Jack Daley, the Demons have turned to the last man who lead them to a premiership – Anthony Dennis – to work his magic.
Dennis, who has spent the last four years playing at Tongala, will return to the club he coached between 2016-18 – and was confident that with a little bit more experience and guidance, his young side would be ready to bounce back this season.
“It’s been good getting back to Calivil and giving back to a club that I’ve been a part of for a long time,” Dennis said.
“The most pleasing aspect has been the development of the younger players and understanding our game plan and watching how far they’ve progressed over the pre-season.
“We’ve tried to bring in a few more mature bodies and guys who understand the game of football over the pre-season – last year they were a very young side and this season will be all about bringing some guidance back in and setting them up with some structures and game plans.”
One of those inclusions is Marong premiership ruckman Justin Hynes, who together with Corey Pearce, will form a formidable one-two punch around the stoppages. Dennis won’t be the only familiar face to return to Calivil United, with 2017 premiership teammates Henry Miller and Nathan Ryan also set to pull on the Demons jumper this season. Also arriving will be Cody Thompson, Jack Maher and Tom Piazza, who will all add further depth to both the midfield and key position stocks, with Dennis hoping to play an attractive brand of football this season.
“We want to play attacking football, but we want to be smart at the same time,” Dennis said.
“It’s about knowing when to go and when not to go – you always want to try and drag opposition players out of their zones and go through the middle and we’ll be trying to do exactly that as well.”
FROM THE COACH
“We just want to be competitive around the whole ground and play four quarters of good footy. Outside of Marong and Pyramid Hill, I think the competition will be fairly even, so it’ll be pretty competitive for those last three spots in the finals and that’s what we’re aiming at is being one of those teams.”
KEY PLAYER
Jake Lawry
Has long been one of Calivil United’s most consistent players for almost a decade, with the forward finishing runner-up in last year’s best and fairest. Rarely plays a bad game and will be one to watch this season.
INS & OUTS
INS
Justin Hynes (Marong)
Cody Thompson (Rochester)
Jack Maher (South Bendigo)
Tom Piazza (South Bendigo)
Henry Miller (Eaglehawk)
Nathan Ryan (Returning)
OUTS
Jack Daley (Eaglehawk)
Jacob Greenwood (Eaglehawk)
Blayne Ryan-Storey
