Redan was relatively quiet on the recruiting front when planning for a tilt at the 2016 Ballarat Football League premiership.
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The Lions had their share of player movement, but coach Eammon Gill was largely willing to put his faith in the tried and true at the City Oval.
The arrival cupboard was not completely bare though.
Redan did attract quality defender Liam Hoy from the North Ballarat Roosters, where he had played more than 70 games across six seasons.
And the Lions signed Hoy knowing he would only largely be available for the run to the finals and then hopefully a finals campaign owing to an overseas trip which would take in most of the home and away season.
It has worked out perfectly. He arrived back just in time to get the three games he needed to qualify to play finals and get some match fitness.
He said he had hoped get four or five games in, but with a late bye it had not worked out that way.
Hoy, who played one game with Redan last year, lines up against North Ballarat City in an elimination final at the Eastern Oval on Sunday and is ready to give everything he has to keep Redan in the premiership hunt.
Hoy said he had returned with a new zest for the game and was looking forward to making what would be a rare finals appearance for him.
“I needed a freshen up,” he said.
While admitting he is still a bit on the scratchy side with his own form, his main focus is doing what he can for the team.
“Redan’s been great. I’m rapt for the players to be playing finals and I’ll be doing everything I can to help us progress.”
Hoy said facing a knockout scenario was of no concern.
“There’s no issue. It means there’s no choice but to take it head on and throw everything at it.”
Hoy has slipped into a tight, proven bunch.
Redan still has seven players from its latest premiership team in 2011 and 12 from the Lions’ 2012 grand final line-up.
The Lions regained Leigh Ryall, one of the veterans from those performances, in their only change.
North also made just the one change, with Daniel Kilpatrick available.
The BFL finals series opens on Saturday with Lake Wendouree meeting Bacchus Marsh in the qualifying final, and Sunbury against reigning premier Darley.