Koroit premiership player joins AFL Cairns competition for season 2020

Lachlan Rhook has joined South Cairns after collecting three Hampden league flags in his three seasons as a Saint.

Koroit coach Chris McLaren said the club was disappointed to lose the versatile Rhook but supported his decision to test himself, both as a player and person, in a new environment.

"He's going to go and have a look and see. If it's what he's after he'll have a crack and go for it and if it's not he won't," he said.

"During last year we had chats about it. He was going to go to Noosa at the start but there's been a change of plans and he's going to go to Cairns."

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Rhook joined the Saints as a teenager for the 2017 season and quickly established himself in the club's best 21.

McLaren said he would "leave a hole".

"He had a terrific season last year and he's had a great three years really," he said.

"He's a very versatile player. He's been in the midfield the last year-and-a-half or so but he's been off half-back or on a wing or can push forward and can score goals too.

"Those sort of blokes are very hard to replace but one thing we've always done is encouraged our players, if they've got ambitions to play at higher levels or travel.

"It's been proven if you encourage them and help them go and do what they want to do, they always come back and repay you ten-fold."

Koroit has also lost fellow 2019 premierships players Tom Couch (overseas), James Gow (Geelong, VFL) and Damian O'Connor (retired).

Ruckman Daniel Roache, who featured in the Saints' 2018 flag-winning side, has joined Warrnambool and District league club Panmure. McLaren said the Saints had new faces training and were also hopeful of snagging late recruits to help them strive for a seventh consecutive premiership.

But the non-playing mentor is also confident Koroit has the youth to fill the voids, saying Mac Petersen, Clem Nagorcka, Paddy O'Sullivan, Tom Baulch and Todd White, who is already a multiple senior premiership player, were pre-season standouts.

Isaac Sinnott and Frazer Robb, who was the hard-luck story of the 2019 finals series, are others chasing more senior chances.

"We think they can come in and instantly be good players for us so it will be great," McLaren said.

Defender Jayden Watson, who had off-season toe surgery following an injury-ravaged two years, is also impressing on the track, as is injury-plagued teammate Jack O'Sullivan.

McLaren said Jack O'Sullivan was overcoming stress fractures in his back and groin surgery.

"He's basically missed two years of footy really," he said.

Koroit has organised practice matches against Redan and South Barwon - both at Victoria Park - and starts its home and away season on April 4 against Portland.

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