WEDDERBURN
TOM Metherell picks up coaching duties with the Redbacks this year after former coach Sam Barnes retired.
Metherell will take a playing-coach role and hopes to improve structure within the senior side.
Wedderburn finished sixth on the 2023 ladder, but Metherell pointed out that there was not much between fourth and sixth place and he’s optimistic the side can take the next step this year.
“The second-last game of the season we played Nullawil on their home ground and beat them and they went on to play in the grand final, so we certainly feel finals footy is within reach,” he said.
“The boys have adapted well to the structures we have put in place, and we are focused on where we want to be as a team this year.
“We’ve been training since October, and we’ve had good results in practice matches.”
Heading into the side are brothers Anthony, Michael and Richard Zelencich.
Anthony was a big goalkicker for Carisbrook last year and will aim to fill the gap left by Sam Barnes’ exit.
He will provide options as a small and crafty forward who reads the game well.
Michael will settle into the job at half back and wing and consistently gets the job done, while Rich is a key back man.
Oscar Holt comes back into the side from injury and has shown great signs so far.
He will play an important role as a medium forward with a great leap.
Noah Young is a 19-year-old from Kangaroo Flat who plays beyond his years.
Metherell described him as having a great football brain beyond his years.
“He’s versatile, can play anywhere, we’ll have him playing through the mid,” he said.
Fast facts
President – Chris Hargreaves
Senior Coach -Tom Metherell
2023 Ladder position – sixth
2023 Best & Faires – Jordan Rosengreen
2023 Leading Goalkicker – Sam Barnes
Premierships – 8 (1951, 1968, 1970, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014)
From the coach Tom Metherell
We are very focused on bringing structure to the side and with that, some professionalism.
I’ve come in as an outsider so I’m looking at things with a fresh set of eyes and not having a history with the club, it’s made the boys push harder.
We have a group that have been playing together for four years that had success playing juniors together and we are looking for them to take the next step to playing good seniors footy.
Like everyone, we aim to play finals football but we are also looking for internal improvement to get the best out of our year.
We’ve been very fitness and structure based during pre-season and working on our defence and attacking game.
But we’re not focusing too far ahead, we’ll be looking at the game in front of us each week.
Key Player
Jackson McKewan came to the club halfway through last season and he’s a key midfielder who really drives standards.
He’s great as an inside midfielder and can bring other guys into the game with good decisions and a clever footy brain.
He reads play well and is very silky in his use of the footy.Outs: Sam Barnes, Jordon Rosengreen
Ins – Jye Dingfelder, Tomas Dingfelder, Tom Metherell, Anthony Zelencich, Michael Zelencich, Richard Zelencich, Noah Furlong.
