Collingullie-Glenfield Park’s premiership defence has received a welcome boost with the re-signing of ruckman Ben Klemke.
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While his two brothers have left to take on new challenges, Ben Klemke this week elected to re-sign for a second season at Crossroads Oval.
In what has been a quiet off-season for the premiers, Collingullie-Glenfield Park coach Luke Gestier was relieved to have Klemke on board for a second year.
“He had been right for a while, it just never matched up for him to be in Wagga but it was good to get it done,” Gestier said.
“It’s great for the club. Ben’s obviously a massive part of our set up, there’s no secret in that.
“He does so much work in the ruck and through the middle. He’s a big body and can actually play.”
Klemke finished runner up in the Demons’ best and fairest in what was his first season at the club.
Travelling from Sydney, Klemke played 18 of Collingullie-GP’s 19 games for the year and ended up with a premiership medal.
Gestier will lock Klemke in to play ruck again this year.
“Yeah at this stage he’ll go in there again. He had a superb year last year,” he said.
“Dusty (Rogers) will give him a chop out in there as well.”
The news is not so good with talented key position player Tom Keogh, who has injured his calf badly in an off-season accident.
He is likely to sit the start of the season out, at the very least. The availability of defenders Tom and Joe Byrnes is also up in the air.
“Joe is more of a chance of playing than Tom. It’s a waiting game, we’re just waiting to see what their circumstances are,” he said.
The Demons will travel to Canberra to play Gungahlin for their first trial game on March 23, followed by a trial against Farrer League premiers Marrar on March 30.
Collingullie-GP have signed two-time Riverina League leading goalkicker John Buchanan, as well as welcoming back James Demby and Mick Anderson.
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