CHFL previews 2018 | Keep an eye on the new Roos

Grant Luscombe’s three seasons as senior coach at the club returned consecutive fifth-placed finishes, but all ended with heartbreaking losses to eighth-placed rivals in an elimination final.

Ballan was the side that sent the Roos packing in 2015, before back-to-back exits at the hands of Daylesford in 2016 and 2017.

Those defeats meant there was no reward for effort for a club that lost just 11 home and away games during Luscombe’s time in charge.

Matt James witnessed much of that disappointment and has taken over the position as head coach for 2018.

James spent two seasons as the under-18 coach at Waubra before taking on an assistant role to Luscombe last year.

Plenty of top-end talent has left the club ahead of his first campaign in the job, including star goal-kicker Tim Boyle and other key position players such as Malcom Niblett, Nick Aringo and Josh King. A season-ending knee injury to gun onballer and multiple club best and fairest Lincoln Barnes is another huge blow.

And while some good players have arrived, even James admits it’s hard to know how the side will go in 2018.

“I think we can compete with the good sides and if we don’t roll up and play good footy against the teams that finished down the lower end, we will be in a bit of trouble as well,” James said.

“Obviously we want to make finals and probably win a final considering that’s where we have sort of bombed out the last few years. That’s probably the goal, really… to win a final and see where we go from there with a young group.”

Of the recruits, ex-North Ballarat VFL-listed player Glen Coleman arrives as a midfielder from Maryborough, while former Rebels tall Jonathon Neville can hold down a key position at either end of the ground. Andrew Wettenhall is expected to boost the onball rotations, while forwards Jarred Crabtree and Travis Parsons are other leading recruits.

James said there had been a few knocks on his team being “soft” in recent times and revealed it had been a focus during the off-season to become more physical around the contest and to defend harder.

Q: What do you see as your key on-field strength?

Flexibility. A number of players have the skill sets to fill multiple roles for our team each week. A large portion of the list has now been together for 2-3 years, so the continuity of playing together means we have a tight knit group.

Q: What is your key message as coach in 2018?

Defend well and take the game on. The demographic of our list is so young, so instilling the confidence to play a positive brand of footy and compete every single week is important.

Q: How have the pre-season preparations gone?

The boys have been training with great urgency and intensity, making the most of our time together. The advantage of our youthful list is the enthusiasm to improve and willingness to learn.

Q: Which player are you most excited about?

Boring response, but a lot of the young guys that have had senior experience over the last few years stepping up and establishing themselves as regular contributors. Matt Dawson has had his best pre-season since being at the club and will be a real leader on-field for us this year.

Q: Which is the team to beat this season?

Hepburn.

Matt James (new)

Fifth position

12 wins, four losses

Leading goal-kicker: Tim Boyle, 54 goals

Best and fairest: Lincoln Barnes

Geoff Taylor Medal top vote-getters: Lincoln Barnes 16, Tim Boyle 12, Geordie Lukich 9, Matt Dawson 9

Glen Coleman (Maryborough), Jonathon Neville (La Trobe University), Andrew Wettenhall (University Blues), Cameron Smith (Edenhope-Apsley), Jarred Crabtree (Skipton), Brandon Briody (Coorparoo), Travis Parsons (South Warrnambool), Harry Bond (Russells Creek), Stuart Hunter (Harcourt), Joel Leman (Lake Wendouree)

Tim Boyle (not playing), Malcom Niblett (Carisbrook), Nick Aringo (Queenscliff), Lachie Johns (Minyip-Murtoa), Josh King (overseas)

R1: Learmonth (h)

R2: Newlyn (a)

R3: Daylesford (h)

R4: Bungaree (a)

R5: Gordon (h)

R6: Buninyong (a)

R7: Ballan (h)

R8: Dunnstown (a)

R9: Beaufort (h)

R10: Hepburn (a)

R11: Springbank (h)

R12: Rokewood-Corindhap (h)

R13: Skipton (a)

R14: Creswick (h)

R15: Carngham-Linton (a)

R16: Clunes (h)

R17: Smythesdale (a)

Hard to see the Roos being a flag contender, but the team should be able to find itself a spot towards the lower end of the top eight.