Change has swept through the Lindenow football department with new senior coach Kane Ashwood bringing in a number of recruits to work with him in 2016.
While the Cats were only seven points shy of a premiership in 2015, Ashwood knows that he is working with a young group of players and he has gone looking for experience.
The recruitment of ruckman and new development coach, Angus Fortune, from the Loddon Valley Football League (LVFL) is huge for the Cats given the lack of height over the past four seasons.
Originally from Bendigo Football League club Castlemaine, Fortune was a member of the LVFL interleague side in the past two seasons and has experience with former VFL club Bendigo Gold and the Bendigo Pioneers in the TAC Cup.
It is expected that Fortune will work with current Lindenow ruckman Brett Hargreaves who is currently on an extended break overseas.
Season 2016 will also see two East Gippsland Football Netball League (EGFNL) best and fairest winners return to the Cattery.
Luke Dyer rejoins the club having left to play for Bairnsdale when it joined the higher level Gippsland League in 2011.
Bayden Ashwood will join his brother following a stint with the Redlegs which began in 2012 following his participation in the most recent Lindenow premiership.
A regular member of the Gippsland League interleague squads during his time with Bairnsdale, Dyer also won a best and fairest with the Redlegs in 2012.
In 2015 Ashwood had his most consistent season with Bairnsdale and was duly recognised as runner-up in the best and fairest award and was previously a best and fairest winner at Lindenow.
The addition of the Ashwood brothers and Dyer means that the Lindenow could have three EGFNL best and fairest winners in its midfield brigade in 2016 plus the likes of Justin Blair, Paul Gould, Daniel Harrison, Nick McConville and Brendan Gallus who carried the load last season.
Lindenow Football Director Chris Daffey said 2016 was shaping up to be an exciting year at the club which is aiming to be a part of senior finals action for the seventh year in a row.
“In 2015 we lost our assistant coach and best midfielder to Bairnsdale, some players that had been a part of the side for a long time decided to take a break, and as a result, quite a few people wrote off our season before a ball had been bounced,” said Daffey.
“In the end it actually probably helped us and the coaching staff led by Paul Carroll did a fantastic job to motivate the playing group that remained.
“A number of players that had been a part of our 2013 under 18 premiership side developed into senior players, our other younger and less experienced players also stepped up, and we were fortunate to get a couple of handy recruits in Brendan Gallus and Daniel Abbott, plus a full season out of Brett Hargreaves.
“Turk stepping away is a major change for the club as he’s been such a contributor over a long period of time but everyone at the club is excited about next year with a new coach coming onboard as well as new and returning players.
“Crucially, we’ve largely been able to hold onto the playing group which achieved so much in 2015.
“That is probably the most pleasing thing for the club as the blokes who ran out together on grand final day, and those that unfortunately missed out, get along really well and have a real sense of mateship about them.
“That team got to the grand final on spirit, hard work and by supporting each other. Every single person at the club was extremely proud of their efforts and we’re all looking forward to helping them again next season.”
Daffey said another bonus for 2016 is both Paul Hadden (Chairman of Selectors) and Todd Alexander (Assistant Coach) agreeing to continue in their roles.
Lindenow will begin its pre-season in December and will again hold its annual Christmas Toy Drive in injunction with the Bairnsdale Kmart Wishing Tree Appeal (Sunday, December 13) to benefit local families doing it tough during the festive season.
