Setting up a successful platform for years to come is the main focus for the Tocumwal senior football side.
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With the departure of playing-coach Tim Garlick, 2018 reserves coach David Bate is now in the driver’s seat for the seniors with the full support of new president Dennis Sutton.
Tocumwal finished 10th on the Picola & District League ladder last year and since their last match the Bloods have been on a signing spree.
Trent Boglis, Alex Saraikin, Robbie Hermann and Dion Metzner are among the names committed to playing for the Bloods.
Saraikin and Hermann moved earlier in the year from Gippsland to Tocumwal and have decided to join the local club while Metzner will travel from Cobram.
On baller Boglis last played for the club in 2013 and has previously played with Northern Football League with Montmorency and at AFL Cairns level with Port Douglas.
Troy Poynton and Corey Parish have also both re-signed with Tocumwal.
Bate said the senior side has been training for the past month and have been getting decent numbers in preparation for the first game.
‘‘We’re training strong and working towards the new game plan and style.
‘‘Big Dion Metzner is probably going to play forward for us and every time the ball goes in there he’s looking really good.
‘‘A couple of the young players out of the thirds are looking strong plus we we also brought over Brock and Zak Thomson from Deni (Rovers).’’
Bate said the club has been building its depth across senior players to strengthen both the seniors and reserves.
‘‘Late last year we had guys that just weren’t up to senior footy.
‘‘The biggest focus has been to recruit players who can play at the senior level so we can work on the game style after that.
‘‘We need to stand up in games and avoid the big hidings we had last year.
‘‘Winning games and making finals isn’t as big a focus compared to being competitive and strong to the contest.
‘‘It’s important to have our supporters and members walking away from games proud we had a crack even if we didn’t win.’’
Tocumwal’s first match of the year is an away game against Yarroweyah on Saturday, April 6.
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Tocumwal’s A grade side is out for vengeance this year after going down in the grand final last year to the Deni Rovers.
Like the seniors football side the A grade team are under the new guidance of Kylie Hicks, replacing playing-coach Millie Ferguson.
Hicks’ main goal is to bring back Tocumwal to the glory of the premiership winning years in 2015, 2016 and 2017.
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