Merrivale adds former Hampden league players to its WDFNL list

Coach Josh Sobey said Jordan Thulborn (Mininera league), Jayden Brooks (South Warrnambool), Kirk Downie, Joe Lenehan (Port Fairy), Riley McConnell (South Rovers), Ben Mulcahy (Dennington), Tristan Quarrell (East Warrnambool), Dylan Scoble (South Warrnambool) and Tyson Umbers (Dennington) were on board.

Jack Gleeson, who returned to the club from Koroit, for 2021 has been named captain and Claye Cassidy is vice-captain.

READ MORE:

The club's nine-player leadership group includes the likes of playing-assistant Manny Sandow and young guns Josh Britton and Tate Porter.

Sobey said it was exciting to have those well-respected youngsters wanting to take on leadership positions.

The coach feels having a big leadership group, made up of players of different ages, will help build team camaraderie.

Matt Brown will be non-playing assistant coach.

Sobey said he wasn't ruling anyone out for senior selection and wasn't locking anyone down in any one position.

"All the young kids have a lot of development ahead of them," he said.

"The most pleasing thing from my end is they want to learn and grow."

Brooks, who played seniors and reserves with the Roosters in 2019, will mostly play through the midfield.

"He's really hard at it and going to complement our midfield a lot in that regard," Sobey said.

Downie will add to the Tigers' pace.

"An exceptional runner and a bit taller than most," Sobey said.

"Potentially a wing and half-back and could possibly go forward as well."

The speedy Joe Lenehan could also line up on the half-back line or on the wing.

"He's lifted my eyebrows a lot, he's putting a lot of hard work in and I'm super excited about how he's going to go," Sobey said.

The Tigers mentor said Riley McConnell, who played with South Warrnambool's under 18.5 in 2019, hadn't missed a beat since November.

"Hoping he can have a big impact this year, he'll get his opportunity through the midfield and hopefully spend some time forward," Sobey said.

The coach added Umbers could play on the wing and Quarrell, a forward-midfielder, had brought plenty of energy and fun to training since his arrival.

The coach said teenager Scoble, a future key-position prospect, was also pushing for senior selection.

Youngster Ben Mulcahy, who played a mix of seniors, reserves and juniors with Dennington in 2019, could also get a senior call-up.

Sobey said forward Thulborn broke his collarbone during pre-season training and was four to six weeks away from returning to the track.

Merrivale will have an intraclub match on March 13 and a practice game against Horsham District club Harrow-Balmoral on March 20.

They also have a warm-up game against Hampden club, Warrnambool, on March 26.