CALIVIL UNITED
PROFILE
ANTHONY Dennis has one experience he is desperate to share with the rest of his Calivil United team – winning a flag.
In his first stint as coach – from 2016 to 2018 – he took the Demons to the 2017 premiership and he is just as keen to get there again himself.
And if his off-season recruiting is anything to go by, he would be planning for finals as the starting point this season.
“We have added around 10 players to the list and that depth has been reflected in the quality of our pre-season, which has been excellent, with a regular 25 every night – and we hit 30 the other day,” Dennis said.
“This is my second year back and we all know what we want out of this year and everyone has been working hard to get there.
“Eeven I reckon I will be playing at my lightest in more than 10 years – I have had to do that to lead by example, you can’t ask the boys to do it if you won’t.”
Dennis came home – his family still farms in the district – after time away at Tongala, which was closer to where he had been living, and was planning to play out his career as a Demon.
“I am delighted we only lost a few players after 2023 because the turnover here since COVID has been ridiculous,” he said.
“But right now, in fitness and attitude, we are well ahead of where we were last year, and that’s a big positive for us.
“Also, if you analyse our 2023 season, while we only won three games, we also only lost another six to eight by four goals or less, as we didn’t bat all that deeply, but we have got a bit more grunt in the line-up for 2024.”
But Dennis conceded last year’s top four had “really loaded up” for the new season, so grabbing that fifth and final slot was what he saw as a realistic target right now.
Once you get there, finals tend to be a different ballgame in which anything can happen – and does.
“With me and assistant coach Sam Maher both playing, we will be relying heavily on Ross Maxted to run things from the bench, and as a former player and premiership coach we couldn’t be in better hands on game day,” he said.
FROM THE COACH
“I reckon the thing which sets us apart this year from previous seasons is the attitude of the whole squad. The work ethic, the fitness and the obvious extra outside training players are doing are all great signs we are headed in the right direction. When you add our recruiting to the mix, and our minimal losses, I think supporters can look forward to seeing a different team take the field in 2024.”
KEY PLAYERS
Lewis Fisher: Here’s a tough midfield onballer from the Bendigo league who has brought a new level of intensity to the squad.
Sam Maher: Also out of Bendigo, his attitude is incredible and coach Anthony Dennis said he he and Lewis had really lifted the training standard, important for setting a great direction for the side.
INS & OUTS
INS: Sam Maher (South Bendigo), Kane Shelton (Golden Square), Lewis Fisher (Golden Square), Darcy Thompson (Ballarat), Sam Green (Boort), Mitch Stephens (Echuca), Brodie Wagner (Boort).
OUTS: Mitch Avard (Huntly), Lachie Brook (Huntly), Henry Miller (retired).
