Tara Murray
Hillside showed some good early signs but know it will take some time to play consistent football in the Essendon District Football League division 1.
The Sharks have a relatively new side this season with a number of new players having come to the club.
Sharks coach Charlie Denaro said in round one against Roxburgh Park they fielded a very different team to the last game they played in 2021.
The Sharks lost the game after leading all day, but Denaro said the Magpies were clearly the better team all day.
“We weren’t sure what to expect, we hadn’t played since July 30,” he said.
“We were good in some parts of the game.
“We had just eight players from the last game against West Coburg, there was some massive turnover.
“It’s exciting and we’ve had some good fellows who have come to the club.”
Denaro said outside of Josh Covelli, the new recruits who played in round one were in their early 20s and younger.
Other key recruits CJ and Paris Grampsas are both out injured with mid to long term injuries and would be five to six weeks from playing.
“Lucas Failli is only 20, Carlo Riccardi is 19 and we had a couple of first senior gamers who were 18,” Denaro said.
“We’re still a young team. We’ve got a lot of boys who now have 30 to 40 games under their belts and we’re starting to see them mature.”
Covelli made an instant impact at his new club kicking seven goals as he starred up forward.
Denaro said that was more than they had expected from him.
“Josh is a great bloke,” he said. “We didn’t put too many expectations on him,
“He gets questioned by a lot of people. He’s worked his butt off and we saw what he is capable of.
“If we get two or three goals out of him a game, that is more than above expectations. It will make him a 50 goal forward.
“He was disappointed with the loss.”
The Sharks will be back in action on Friday, in their annual Good Friday match.
This year they will have a new opponent in the Sunbury Kangaroos with Taylors Lakes being relegated.
Denaro said they were keen to face the Kangaroos in what is usually one of the biggest games of the year.
“We have enjoyed the journey against Taylors Lakes, now we get to face Sunbury,” he said.
“Sunbury were very impressive against Tullamarine and we don’t take them lightly.
“Leighroy [Sporle] is a good mate of mine and hopefully we can beat him.
“There’s always a big crowd on Good Friday.”
