LEITCHVILLE-GUNBOWER
IF Bombers’ coach Shannon Keam was asked how his inaugural season at the helm was going after Round 5 last season, you’d probably hear the struggles of another season.
Especially after claiming the 2022 wooden spoon.
However, Leitchville-Gunbower launched an extraordinary mid-season revival to catapult into the Heathcote District league finals series.
The Bombers bowed out in the elimination final to eventual premier Mount Pleasant, but given the rapid improvement made under the new coach, the 2024 season is full of promise with some big names returning home.
Keam said it took a while for the side to find their feet last year.
“We know we can play that up-tempo style of footy, which suits our smaller running guys,” he said.
“We’ve also been working on a few different ways that we can play in terms of having a plan A, B and C, but we probably feel that high-tempo style of footy that most teams like to play these days is probably going to be our brand.”
Keam said the club had secured the talents of local players returning to the hanger.
“We’ve been blessed a bit where we’ve got some guys coming back on to the family farm in Charlie Hancock and Will Brereton,” Keam said.
“They are both utility players who have been training well.
“Blake Dye is a local lad who has returned and is going to play in our forward line.
“Brady Hore is back at the club after returning from Strathfieldsaye. We’re still up in the air about where we will play Brady, but he is the type of player we can utilise through the middle, off half-back, the wing or half-forward.
“He has trained in all positions over the summer, but we haven’t cemented any specific role as yet for him. Overall we’ve been fortunate with getting some of our local contingent back.
“We’ve also got Max Hagan and Kyle Green who have come out from the Echuca under-18s. They have both been training well and will put their hand up for senior selection.
“Brad Green is another new player we’ve got through a connection with the Hislop brothers and Fraser Buchanan, who is a small forward type and could also run through the midfield if required.”
From the coach:
LEITCHVILLE-Gunbower was focused on retention and building on increased depth.
“To be honest, I don’t think I’ve had to make a recruiting phone call in the new year,” Keam said.
“We wrapped it up fairly early and went more for the sustainability of having a core local group.”
The club has seen large numbers at training, with a gruelling player camp at Boort.
The players camp was an opportunity to bond and to build a “cohesive” team and demonstrated the high level of fitness the players have already got, thanks to a solid pre-season, the club said.
Welcoming lots of new faces and with minimal departures, the senior club is also planning on troubling the top teams this year.
Leitchville-Gunbower had two practice matches against Deni Rams and Diggers Rest in March.
INS:
Declan Mahony (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Thomas Mahony (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Alfie Quinlan (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Mac Ryan (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Oliver Jones (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Saxon Dwyer (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Luke Garner (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Aaron Garner (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Campbell Wood (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Fynn McGillivray (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Fergus McGillivray (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football Club)
Layne Trevena (Leitchville Gunbower Junior Football)
Harvey Jackman (Huonville Lions)
Lochlan Basham (Echuca Junior Football Club)
Dallas Price (Echuca United)
Brodie Park (Deniliquin)
Max Hagan (Echuca)
Kyle Green (Echuca)
Charles Hancock (Shepparton)
Brady Hore (Strathfieldsaye)
Will Brereton (Scarborough)
Fraser Buchanan (Moama)
OUTS:
Hudson Fountain (Cohuna Kangas)
Beau Trahar (Maryborough)
