Football
9 April, 2024
Edenhope Apsley 2024 Season Preview
A look at Edenhope Apsley's 2024 season in both football and netball and a message from President Elizabeth Kealy.
The Saints bring youth and a multi-premiership coach into the fold for the 2024 premiership season.
In 2023, they made the elimination final where they lost to Noradjuha Quantong and with a young side, coupled with some great young recruits, they are a wildcard this season.
Adi Campbell joins the club from Woolgoolga in the Northern Beaches in NSW. He was born in Edenhope and played a season as a junior in the 90's before his family moved away and he always wanted to come back to the club.
In 2007 he coached the Balranald Reserves to a premiership before moving to Grafton where he coached back-to-back flags in 2011 and 2012. He took several years off before he returned to coach another flag.
Campbell wants to bring structure and discipline into the team this season.
"I like disciplined play and controlling the game through one-on-one footy," Campbell said.
"We want to be able to take the footy off the opposition and control the game."
In regards to recruits, Tim Churchin joins the club from Yamba in the Northern Rivers and will be a half forward/midfielder and Fraser Thompson has joined from the same area in Coffs Harbour and will be a centre half forward/back for the club.
Brock Summerhayes has joined the club from the SANFL. He played juniors from Norwood and will bolster their forward line. Summerhayes kicked nine goals in the U16 Torrens Uni Cup in 2022 for Glenelg.
Another big recruit is Heath Keatley from Bordertown. Keatley was the under-17 best and fairest in the Kowree-Narracoorte-Tatiara Football League last year.
When asked who is impressing him on the track, Campbell noted Adam Hood and Charlie Campbell.
"Adam is coming from the under-17s and has been impressing in the pre-season and Charlie Campbell has improved every week and training and will be one to watch," Campbell said.
Edenhope Apsley will open their season against Taylors Lake at Dock Lake Recreation Reserve.
REIGNING PREMIERS HAVE NEW LOOK
The reigning premiers have a new look about them in 2024 with only Lavinia Fox returning from their 2023 premiership squad.
Sarah Domaschenz will return to coach and is joined by C Grade premiership coach Paris Hardwick.
Teagan Kanoa-Muir has come across from Taylors Lake whilst Tahlia Sailor comes across from Donald, but other than that, they will be looking internally at who can step up this season.
"We are passionate about junior development at the club and each week we will have at least three in the A and B squads and juniors will get court time," Domaschenz said.
"We have worked on combinations and will have a good idea of who will fit well."
Of the young players, Jasmine McIntyre will step up into the A Grade and Charlotte Henderson and Isabel Payne will get opportunities.
McIntyre is in the 15-and-under HDFNL representative team and has a bright future in the sport.
"This is going to be a new look squad for us and even though we may be missing a lot of premiership faces, we are hopeful we can be up there again this year," Domaschenz said.
"Laharum are the main challenges and it will be interesting to see how a couple of other teams will go."
FROM THE PRESIDENT
With news that Edenhope Apsley won't be playing home games at Apsley this season and all home games will be played at Edenhope, president Elizabeth Kealy said the club is in a good place and shut down any rumours that the club was splitting.
"We are still an incorporated club," Kealy said.
"There were a few families that have personally chosen to depart and join another club and that happens everywhere.
"People choose for personal reasons to go to another club and that happened and they decided for the Apsley oval to go ahead and be used for the Border Districts Football Club."
Kealy said they are pushing forward in 2024 and not only want success on the field but to also nurture the juniors.
"The football side of things is looking good and even though we have lost some numbers from our premiership netball side, it is still looking good," Kealy said.
"We have a lot of junior numbers at the club so we are looking at nurturing them into the future and building a good culture.
"Juniors are the backbone of the club and are needed for the club to survive, so we are focusing on developing them and making sure they enjoy their football and netball."