Football
18 April, 2024
Minyip Murtoa 2024 Season Preview
A look at Minyip Murtoa's 2024 season in both football and netball and a message from President Chris Delahunty.
The biggest news for the Burras in the off-season was the coaching recruitment of Gareth Hose.
After a year off football having coached Noradjuha Quantong for five years, Hose comes to the club looking for success.
Hose said the club being family oriented drew him to the club.
"It was a good opportunity to coach in the WFNL and also when they approached me, I knew they were a good family club which suits myself and my family," Hose said.
"To be able to also work with another group of players who are ready to go to the next level was appealing as well."
When asked what he would bring to the club, he pointed out bolder ball movement.
"Since coming to the club structurally the team is well drilled defensively and I don't need to bring much on that front," Hose said.
"I will try to bring a bit more bolder ball movement and take the game on a bit more with our skills moving forward.
"We want to be strong in the contest and work hard to outnumber the opposition, and we have the team to be able to do that."
The Burra focused on strengthening the midfield in the offseason with Tim and Ben McIntyre coming across from Edenhope Apsley, Nick Cushing from Redan and Dusty Cross from Kangaroo Island, the latter playing under Hose at Noradjuha Quantong.
"The club spoke to me about what they wanted to strengthen and we have done that by bringing in a lot of experience and strength," Hose said.
Hose is also excited about the younger brigade, highlighted by Oscar Gawith.
"Gawith coming back from the Rebels as a 19-year-old is exciting. He is a good key position player down back and can also play up forward and have a stint in the midfield. He has a lot of talent and I am excited by what he can produce," Hose said.
"We also have some younger players that have impressed during pre-season as well in Wilson Mitchell, Seth Talbot, Brazer McKenzie, Lochlan McConnell and Will Gellatly.
"They will be pushing for selection this year and I am excited about what they can do when given the opportunity."
Minyip Murtoa open their campaign at home against Nhill.
NETBALLERS EYE IMPROVEMENT
Kirby Knight leads a strong netball contingent in her first year as senior coach, where she will coach A and B Grade.
Knight returns to the club following a stint with Learmonth where she won a premiership. Knight has coached juniors and C Grade before and is relishing the opportunity of coaching this season at a club she loves.
"It's a big opportunity for me and I am looking forward to coaching a great group of girls through both grades," Knight said.
"As a coach I want the players to enjoy themselves. If you have enjoyment off the court you will have it on the court and that leads to more success.
"I am going back to basics where you turn up each week and still enjoy yourselves and if the girls are doing that, we will see results across all grades."
There are a lot of new and returning faces for the Burra and there is some young talent coming up through the ranks.
Ash Rintoul and Tamika Mentha are back at the club. They also have four sisters playing - Claudia, Matilda, Johanna and Isabella Griffiths, which excites Knight.
Laura Schuckar, TJ Kerrins and Lauren Dodgshun are also some of the other players who are back.
Knight said the strength across both grades is going to be competitive and she is looking forward to it.
"We have a lot of young talent coming through and the competition for spots is healthy and I am looking forward to coaching these girls this season," Knight said.
"We have plenty of girls to watch out for and it's exciting.
"It's good to be back and I hope I can create success here."
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Club president Chris Delahunty is at the helm of a football club that keeps improving.
"As a club, we just want to continue on the trajectory we are going to continue the improvement," Delahunty said.
"I am lucky I have a good committee around me and we will just keep making sure we field teams and improve facilities when we can."
"We have a bit of off-field things we are working through and we need to revisit our strategic plan which is due this year, and that is something we will focus on during the season."
Delahunty said numbers have been good through all grades, though the new rules about age limits will be a challenge to the club.
"Netball has been exceptional. Our A Grade coach, Kirby Knight, said they had 50 senior women to work through," Delahunty said.
"In football, our senior grades and our U11s have excellent numbers, however we are a bit light on in our U17s and U14s."
As for what he wants the club to achieve this year, Delahunty pointed out continued improvement.
"I just want us to participate well and play with good spirit and hopefully we can achieve finals in both football and netball," Delahunty said.
"We just want to get teams on the field and do our best and hopefully can get success along the way."