THE off-season has weighed heavily on the Millicent Football Club, after it broke a 34-year premiership drought last year to enter the 2019 Western Border Football League season as defending champion.
A total of seven premiership players have departed the club since then, which will provide up-coming players a chance to prove themselves on the senior stage this year.
The first departure was playing coach Clint Gallio, who headed north to pursue his football career in the Northern Territory Football League.
That saw premiership player Lyndon Smith step in to take the reins as the Saints head coach.
Also among the departures are Hamish Nitschke, Will Flemming, James Weir, Matt Duldig and brothers Hamish and Mitchell Gordon.
Each player will be missed dearly, but Smith believes it is a “blessing in disguise” and looks forward to testing some of the future stars of the club.
“When a few doors shut, many doors open,” he said.
“The Under 17’s won the flag last year, so by rights we have the best juniors in the league.
“We will look to give them an opportunity to step up.”
Smith said the likes of Sam Willis, Jonah Grimes and Brady Gibbs, who are among the younger premiership players, will be looked to again this season.
“All of those guys can do some clutch thinking during the game which can turn it around,” he said.
It will certainly be a new-look team that takes to the field against North Gambier in round one, but there is also some good news for the Saints.
Millicent has picked up some new personnel, with several players from the Mid South East Football League joining the club.
Smith did not want to give too much away, but said Hatherleigh brothers Frazer and Kade Bradley have signed on, while Joshua Murphy is another inclusion who will add some depth in the ruck.
The Bradleys were key players in Hatherleigh’s senior colts premiership last year and are no strangers to senior football.
Millicent recently played a trial match against Penola, with another scheduled against the Eagles tomorrow.
Smith was pleased with how the team performed in a game situation, while Penola coach Matt Tilby commented on the pressure the Saints applied around the contest.
“It went really well and it was really positive,” Smith said.
“It was a reassurance that the game plan and everything is heading in the right direction.”
The club also held its training camp on the weekend and Smith was pleased with the turnout.
He said the transition into the coaching role has been smooth enough, but has been an eye-opening experience.
“It has been a real eye opener to what actually goes into coaching,” Smith said.
“The writing was on the wall, I am 28 years old and realistically I probably only have a couple of years left.
“So while I can have some on-field presence as playing coach I thought I would throw my hat in the ring.”
Despite the losses, he said the promise of the Saints’ juniors encouraged him to take on the role and he looks forward
to seeing what the players of the future can bring to the team.
Millicent will take to its home venue of McLaughlin Park for round one against the Tigers, with the opening matches of the season to be played on April 13.
