Back from left: Tooradin footballers Bryce Patterson, Adam Splatt, Ryan Wells, and front, Michael Hobbs, Rod Cochrane and Paul Ray are looking forward to season 2008. Picture: Stewart Chambers.By Marc McGowan
PAST and present Tooradin Football Club figures united at Tooradin and District Sports Club on Sunday to discuss the negativity engulfing the embattled Seagulls.
Casey Cardinia league team of the year recipient Scott Weekley, Dan O’Loughlin and coach Tom Hallinan have left the club for a variety of reasons in a tumultuous off-season.
Tooradin is also facing the prospect of losing 2007 Casey Cardinia league best and fairest Beau Miller.
The star centreman is expected to reveal his playing intentions for the upcoming season next week.
Seagulls vice-president Graeme Ablethorpe said Miller was “unenthused” about the lack of numbers at training, but that an influx of players in the last week was cause for optimism.
“The going is fairly tough at the moment and we certainly believe that it will test the characters of our players and committee, and will also show those who possess those qualities and those that don’t,” he said.
“We’re calling on all players and supporters to get behind the club.
“On Monday night we had almost 40 players at training and we expect more on Thursday (today).”
Ablethorpe believes the population of the Tooradin area is making it difficult for his club to be competitive.
“The problem is that the Tooradin township only has about 1300 people and they’re spread far and wide, while the likes of Beaconsfield and Narre Warren have tens of thousands to draw from,” he said.
“Unless the problem can be addressed, it will be a huge problem down the track for us.”
President Chris Denereaz, who is preparing for his fourth season in the role, blames the Australian Football League (AFL) culture for some of his club’s plight.
“The AFL permeates through. In the AFL they talk loyalty, but that’s just lip service,” he said.
“There is no loyalty in footy any more – only from the loyal, diehard club people.”
Denereaz also echoed Ablethorpe’s sentiments that the players needed to show some character through the tough times.
“It has been a bit hard over the last six months and the committee has done a lot of work to secure players and coaches,” Denereaz said.
“There has been a fair bit of negativity around about the club and that makes it a bit hard to attract players.
“It’s going to be a hard year, but a lot of clubs have hard years.
“In my experience from 26 or 27 years in senior footy, clubs go through hard times and you need to build a good group of players.”
Former Geelong footballer Christian O’Brien has taken over the senior coaching reins and Jordan Csincsi will coach the under 18s.
“Christian O’Brien is a stand-up sort of guy and we want to rally around him,” Ablethorpe said.
“We have struggled in the under 18s, but we have Jordan as coach now, who has come through our under 18s and is 20 years of age.
“He is very enthusiastic and was keen to take on the under 18s and has got mentors in the club assisting him.”
