In the seventh of a 10-part summer series, The Standard looks at why South Warrnambool fans should be buoyant about the 2018 Hampden league season.
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1: The comeback
Josh Saunders is primed for a round one return. The ex-St Kilda midfielder showed glimpses of his AFL quality in five matches before suffering a season-ending knee injury in his Hampden league debut season. Roosters coach Mat Buck said Saunders’ professionalism was one of his best traits. “I don’t expect him to be at his very best for a very long time but even having him out there is going to be an extreme boost for the entire playing group,” he said.
2: The medallist
Manny Sandow emerged as one of the competition’s best big men in 2017, winning the Maskell Medal. Buck thinks the strong-bodied ruckman can only get better. “Last year’s pre-season consisted of going overseas for a little while and having a good time whereas this pre-season he’s certainly lit up the track before Christmas,” he said. “His leadership is terrific around the place, he’s got great ideas and he’s willing to learn as well.” Buck expects Sandow to improve his stamina and hit the scoreboard.
3: Game-changers
South Warrnambool boasts two of the most exciting talents in Jock Blair and Paddy Anderson. Blair is the Roosters’ hardest trainer and can do the mercurial, while Anderson is a proven goal kicker who can “turn games on their heads”. Key pieces to the Roosters’ premiership puzzle.
4: The drive
There is a hunger at Friendly Societies’ Park with the Roosters determined on their first finals series in six seasons. They were sent packing in straight sets in September. But it’s that experience – albeit heartbreaking – which Buck believes is the foundation for their 2018 flag tilt. “I am really excited to get us back there but we’re under no false illusions – we were bundled out because we have some work to do,” he said. “There’s no doubt I think that taste of it will drive the group away from footy. You start to think ‘I liked that, I’d love to have another go’.”
5: New faces
South Warrnambool is known as a junior football factory, churning out AFL, VFL and TAC Cup stars on a regular basis. Buck expects Isaac Thomas, who is coming off a knee reconstruction, Fraser Marris, Alex Lavithis-Davies, Jayden Brooks, Zac Sandow, Ethan Harvey, Tanna Blackney-Noter and Cooper Atchison to push their cases for spots in the best 21.