East Point first gamers Tim Cashin, Hayden Walters and Jake Dunne at training this week.
IT IS finally East Point’s turn to get a good look at its latest batch of recruits.
Seven players who are either new to East Point’s senior team or making a return after a year or more away, will line up for the red, white and blue tomorrow.
They include versatile youngster Jake Dunne, who was part of the South Barwon team that was defeated in last season’s Geelong Football League grand final, ruckman Paul Koderenko, and Hayden Walters who played football last season in Canada.
Former Redan player Tom Cashin, who spent last year at Ararat has also been named, while Matt Ringin, Devon Lock and Jack Watkins have been promoted from the reserves for their first senior games with the Red Lion Kangaroos.
Dunne, an East Ballarat junior, is a key position player, who can play forward or back. “Jake (Dunne) played at South Barwon and they lost the GFL grand final by less than a kick, so they were obviously a very strong side,” East Point playing coach Dan Jordan says.
“He can play in a number of positions. We will have a bit of a look at him to decide where he is better suited and then settle him into a position.”
Walters was vice captain of the 2010 St Patrick’s College team that won the Herald Sun Shield. He was in East Point’s senior grand final side as an under-16.5 eligible player in 2009, before playing the entire season in 2010. “He’s a very promising player,” Jordan says.
“He can play anywhere. He’s big enough to play key position and fast enough to play as a midfielder.
“We haven’t decided what role he will play but he will probably start up on ball for us but he could also go forward. He has big leap and he could also play in the ruck. He is very versatile.”
Jordan says Ringin, Lock and Watkins have played reserves for East Point but had all impressed during pre-season.
He said they had earned the opportunity to play senior football.
As for his own fitness and health, Jordan says he is over most of the injuries that hampered his 2011 campaign and is keen to make an impression at full forward.