Round One might be in the books, but scouting ahead at each club's season outlook doesn't stop. We chat to new Roxburgh Park coach Ross Terranova who provides some insights on what their 2024 campaign will look like.
2023: 7th (8W, 10L, 86.46%)
Coach: Ross Terranova
PRE-SEASON FOCUS
"Coming to a new club in Roxburgh Park, the biggest focus for me was to really understand where the playing group was at and implement a senior program that would allow for continuous development, improvement, predictability, and consistency."
LIST SHAPE
"We have brought a few players into the mix who are striving to play senior football, the balance of youth with the experienced players who have been at the club for a few years allows growth and creates a competitive environment for senior spots."
PLAYERS TO WATCH
"Jack Elliott, Brendan Egberts, Travis Cooke, Thomas Baker, Andrew Capuana, and Jamie Bellam have all excelled throughout preseason with their commitment level and work ethic. There are a couple of young players who have made an impression amongst the group on the track preseason in Tarek Zahraman, Adam Smerdlj, and Zane Terranova."
2024 OUTLOOK
"Our approach is to have sustained success collectively as a playing group and club, we want to be respected by our approach and provide a professional environment that is inclusive."
ON THE RECORD WITH ROSS TERRANOVA
You spent 2023 as Darren Bewick’s assistant at Greenvale but I’ve been told you were always wanting to get back into the head coaching seat, when did the Roxburgh Park opportunity present itself to you and what made you want to join the club?
I thoroughly enjoyed working under Darren at Greenvale, it was a fantastic club to be a part of. It allowed me to take a step back and learn quite a bit from a personal development perspective. I have always enjoyed the challenge of coaching competitive sport, developing players, and building the team environment. The attraction to Roxburgh Park was the age demographic of the list and what they want to achieve as a playing group, and the club's clear focus on their future goals.
Your leadership group is comprised of some loyal clubmen, what qualities did you see in those leaders that ensured their selection in their roles?
The entire playing group at Roxburgh Park is very tight, and most of them have come through the juniors at the club. The boys have a great understanding of the clubs’ values and culture, they are genuine leaders and role models who are respected by their teammates through their work rate, attitude, and commitment to the team’s success.
Shot after the siren to win, who do you want kicking it?
Tylar Sorrentino.
Biggest pest at the club?
Haven’t been able to work that one out yet!
Who might be viewed as the coach's pet?
Jack Omogrosso and Jake Talintyre
One opposition player you’d love on your side?
Scott Clarke (Maribyrnong Park).
Flag tip outside of Roxburgh Park?
St Albans.
LODGED TRANSFERS
In: Scott Poynter (North Haven), Andrew Matheas (Craigieburn), Adam Cruickshank (Craigieburn), Tannous Kabalan (Craigieburn), Matthew Osgood (Craigieburn), Corey O'Connor (Craigieburn), Liam Bartolo (Greenvale), James Bird (Canning South Perth), Matthew Ascenzo (South Morang), Jackson Kettle (Craigieburn), Daniel Xerri (Greenvale), Bayden Moore (Craigieburn), Tarek Zahraman (Northern Saints), Youssef Mourad (Northern Saints), Jihad Mourad (Northern Saints), Ethan Xerri (Greenvale), Dylan Bieganski (Coburg Districts), Zeyad Elayoubi (Northern Saints), James Khouri (Greenvale), Mohamed Keegan (Ardmona), Nicholas Paladino (Moonee Valley), Brodie Raines (North Sunshine), Brock McLarty (Albanvale) & Matthew Pennelli (Greenvale).
Out: Nathan Reichelt (Craigieburn), Luke Reichelt (Craigieburn), Jake Caruso (Brisbane Valley), Jarrio Guterres (Maribyrnong Park), Leon Dias (Oak Park), Winoll Dias (Oak Park), Joseph MacCarone (Northern Saints), Jake Lynch (Reservoir), Cooper McPharlane (Sunshine), Nathan Carroll (Sunshine), Candan Roulston (Craigieburn), Nathan Bolitho (Box Hill North), Corey McCawley (Westmeadows), Marcus Caligiuri (Box Hill North), Jake Watson (Westmeadows), Yasin Erdem (Sunbury Kangaroos), Atila Yaman (Diamon Valley) & Khaled El-Haouli (West Coburg).
EDFL MEDIA SAYS
Ross Terranova is back coaching in Division One after Michael Farrelly stepped away and will lead a Roxy side that's been just on the outer of the finals race in the last couple of seasons. They've never been a club to recruit heavily and this offseason was no different, but with sides around them topping up, they may have a tough time pushing themselves up into that top five.
Ladder Prediction: Mid-lower table.
2024 FIXTURE
