If keeping things fresh is the key to success, East Wagga-Kooringal have had some of their work done for them this off-season, with seven departures shaking up the premiers’ roster.
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Tough defender Guy McAlister and hard-working midfielder Nick Baggio are the latest changes.
But EWK coach Gavin McMahon has full faith in the club’s list heading into his fourth season in charge.
“We’re backing ourselves in with our depth,” McMahon said.
“You’ve got to do that at some point and look after your club from a big picture point of view.
“We’ve got to back ourselves to develop a few players who have won a couple of reserve grade flags and deserve their chance.”
McAlister has moved to Brisbane for work, and Baggio has joined Kiama in the NSW South Coast league.
They join prolific goalkicker Marc Geppert, fellow forwards Billy Mearns and Bryce McPherson and midfielders Stu Brierty and James Creasy in moving on.
“They’re premiership players, so you want them all, but we’ve also been hard at it for three years,” McMahon said.
“Any time a player leaves you’ve got to look inside your club and see if there are things you could have done differently. But most of them have moved for work, and Gep was always going to go back to Collingullie one day.”
Despite some preliminary discussions with a former North East Australian Football League (NEAFL) player from Sydney, EWK haven't added any signings.
“It’s good – it’s just different, not better or worse,” McMahon said. “We’ll still have a pretty handy side.”
League medallist Nick Hull headlines the high-profile re-signings, as well as assistant coach Chris Gordon and captain Ben Absolum.
Geppert’s absence, along with key forward Billy Mearns – who was already travelling from Sydney late last season – will ensure a different look up front.
“We’re pretty excited about our change, we’ve been pretty one-dimensional the last few years,” McMahon said.
EWK also welcome the return of their under 17s.
“Our 17s are up and going, there’s been quite a few at training and they’re pretty keen,” he said. “We missed not having those guys around, you need the young guys coming through.”
The 17s have a trial against Lockhart in a fortnight.
The Hawks seniors have two practice matches scheduled for late March, against Holbrook and Griffith, before opening their season at home on April 8 against Coleambally.
