10 Oct Battle of the Junglecats: Panther reunion at the Lion den
Belmont’s pre-season may still be over a month away however incoming senior coach Ash Witney has already secured one name synonymous with success.
“Stoofa is on board to do our strength and conditioning for us ahead of our camp after Christmas,” Witney announced with pride this week.
He of course refers to Steve Lewry, Bell Post Hill’s 2016 senior premiership coach and fitness guru who oversaw conditioning while Witney was an assistant coach and player at the Panthers.
“Our first day of the pre-season will be the Geelong Fun Run (November 19) and a majority of our boys available for that,” Witney said.
“We’ll do the recovery on the Monday while going through the club philosophies and going through the standards.”
“It’s been really good to see the players want to change the culture and a couple of them are already regulars at Stoofa’s gym now.”
“Until then the ball is in motion.”
(Ash Witney played over 150 games for Bell Post Hill in the GDFL. Photo: Wes Cusworth)
And the Bell Post Hill reunion continues with Witney’s brother Dylan appointed to midfield coach following a successful shoulder operation last night.
GDFL legend and former Panther assistant Andrew Atchison will take charge of the Lions’ backline while Scott Pickett has been given responsibility of the forwards.
And then there are the recruits.
“I reckon I’ve been to about 100 meetings so far from one-on-ones at club to other places with recruits as well as our recent under-18 side,” Witney said.
Will Kelly, another former Bell Post Hill star, will call Belmont home following a season alongside his cousin at Heyfield in the North Gippsland FNL.
(Will Kelly pictured next to North Geelong’s Luke Parker in Round 13, 2017. Photo: April Masters Smith)
He will hope to add to his two premierships and team of the year title captured during his first GDFL stint from 2015-16.
“We also have Alex and Adrian Hann from the Colac Imperials who are not just good footballers, they’re genuinely good blokes as well,” Witney explained.
“Once people saw they were back that inspired a few others to come back.”
“They’re also bringing Alex Jolley and there was one CDFL game where he recorded 28 tackles so you’ve got to have those role players when you’re putting together a team.”
“I had a chat with him (Jolley) earlier on in the piece and he already knows what his role is, he’s already working hard for the team.”
“Jordy O’Dwyer from the Colac Imperials and Matt Weise (Bell Post Hill) are the other names at this stage but we’re also going to build from within.”
Witney added, “We have juniors that have played senior football in Jordy Edwards, Kyle Hay, Mitch Boal, Brent Watkins, Layne Baker (pictured), Andy Wylie and many others.”
“These are the boys who are going to get the ball rolling.”
Last year the Lions finished sixth with an 8-10 record before slumping to 11th this season with a 3-15 winning ratio and lowly 2-16 figure in the reserves.
“I think having Stoofa on board has already scared a few of them and inspired some blokes to work on their fitness beforehand,” Witney admitted.
“I’m a first year coach so it was really important to have the right structure around me and to have some older heads to bounce ideas off of heading to the summer.”
If the GDFL executive continue to fixture games under the rolling draw method then the Lions are likely to host the Panthers in Round 1, perhaps the first chapter of a new rivalry?
By Alex Tigani
GDFL Media (10/10/2017)
Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.