After some tough years, things are slowly starting to build for Melton Centrals in the Riddell District Football League.
With a new coach, Ben Chapman in place, and some key signings having been announced, there’s a buzz around the club that hasn’t been for a long time.
While only new to the club, Chapman said he can feel there’s an excitement among those who have been around the past few years.
“When you’re a club that hasn’t had a lot of success, it can be hard to generate that,” he said.
“At the moment there’s genuine excitement around the place.
“The fact we’ve got players who want to be part of it, part of the club and part of what we’re building helps generate that.
“The club just wants success, naturally. Our supporters deserve it, it’s been a long time.”
Chapman said the amount of players that had bought in showed what there was a real excitement of what the club was trying to do.
The club’s recruits range from locals who have decided to call Centrals home, to some players who have played in the Victorian Football League.
“The ability to recruit from outside and players who have played at a fairly high level of experience and experienced successes, is something that’s really pleasing,” Chapman said.
“It means the message that we are selling people, they want to be part of which is the most pleasing thing.”
A number of players who have come across have played at Sunshine when Chapman was coach.
He said he was hoping that those who were part of Sunshine’s premiership and had success elsewhere, would impart that on the rest of the playing group.
“Hopefully they can help drive standards and fast track the development of some of the players.”
Among the signings for Centrals include Nathan Carroll, who kicked 100 goals for Sunshine in 2024, Roxburgh Park’s leading goalkicker Cooper McPharlane, Buckley Chapman, Lane Tucker, Dylan Appleby and Paul Tomely.
The biggest signing so far is Deer Park’s William Krithararis.
He was the Lions vice-captain this year in Essendon District Football League premier division and has won several premierships at the club. He has also played VFL.
Chapman said he would help set the standards.
While Centrals has been busy, Chapman said they still had a few more signings to unveil.
Chapman said one thing they spoke about as a club that in the past they were almost “the poor cousin” to a certain extent among the Melton-based clubs.
“Payers have gone to Melton or Melton South and they really haven’t given a lot of thought to Centrals.
“The fact we’ve been able to generate from the local pool is really encouraging. We want to be a destination club.”
