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Fog Looking For More Potency Up Forward

Preview 2019 - Moonee Valley


EVEN though it ended with elimination final disappointment at senior level, Moonee Valley coach Shanon Carroll believes the Fog’s 2018 campaign was a positive one.

The club’s home-ground, Ormond Park, was a construction site with portable changerooms and facilities, yet the Valley led the entire EDFL for total premierships won with six across all competitions last year.

They included flags at both Reserves and Under 19s level.

“Initially, I was pretty shattered at the way the season finished after being on top of the ladder with a game to go,” Carroll told essendondfl.com.au.

“But sitting down after a while and having a look, we had an outstanding year considering we had no club rooms and we had no home game in the last six weeks other than the last round.

“There was no income as far as canteen or anything like that, the 19s won the premiership undefeated and the reserves got up and won the premiership as well, so I think we’ve had a fantastic year overall as a club.”

Despite heavy list turnover, Moonee Valley is carrying momentum into 2019 and will be boosted by the return of skipper Ned Wilson from a knee reconstruction.

Forward Jacob Adkins is among the lengthy list of outs but the list of ins is even longer and includes star Northern Saints forward, Rocky Ferraro.

The Fog ranked third in points-for last year but was well behind both the Saints and eventual premier, Roxburgh Park.

Carroll says his side needs to hit the scoreboard more effectively this season.

“We based our game plan last year on a lockdown, defending mentality, with the ability to score quickly at times,” he explained.

“But when you look at the overall goal tally, I think our two prominent forwards (Jordan Faba and Adkins) only kicked just under 60 goals between them and we’ve lost one of those in Jacob Adkins.

“We’ve gone and picked up someone like Rocky Ferraro, so I think if we can even get 40 out of Rocky, then we’re going pretty well.

“If a few others pop up here or there, then I think we’ll be on target to really have a couple of good shoot-outs with sides but also have that confidence and trust in our defensive game as well.”

Carroll does place his side within the Strathmore Community Bank Division 2 premiership window but also knows there are numerous other clubs that could also go all the way in 2019.

“With Sunbury Kangaroos coming in, most coaches would have done their homework on them and know that they’re going to be a force,” Carroll said.

“East Sunbury have got that bitter taste in their mouth and ourselves, after being knocked out, we’ve got that taste.

“Burnside (Heights) are up and coming and even Hadfield had a pretty solid game plan even though they only had one win on the board.

“So it’s really open and even this year.”


RECRUITING

In: David Clarke (defender, Healesville), Luke Ryan (midfielder, Airport West), Andrew Lambert (midfielder, Airport West), Jonathan Mullins (defender, Therry Penola), Robert Ryan (defender/midfielder, Airport West), Brett Thomas (defender, Keilor Park), Rocky Ferraro (forward, Northern Saints), David McNaughton (defender, St Kilda City), Cameron Cobby (midfielder/forward, Ocean Ridge), Nathan Cutajar (utility, Keilor), Brad Trewhella (utility, Drysdale), Sebastian Monka (forward, Wodonga), Anthony Velicki (defender, Lalor) & Jacob Whybrow (utility, Aberfeldie)

Out: Michael O’Donoghue (Brunswick), Patrick O’Donoghue (Brunswick), Matthew Brown (Brunswick), Jordan Adkins (Brunswick), Jacob Adkins (Brunswick), David Royle (Brunswick), James Octigan (Brunswick), Stuart Cox (Lake Wendouree), Stuart Aberdein (Redan), Michael Osterman (Coburg districts) & Ben Fisher (Coburg Districts)


2019 DRAW

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