Max Hatzoglou
Hillside coach Charlie Denaro believes his team can match it against any team in the Essendon District Football League division 1 competition, but admits time is needed for his new list to build chemistry.
The club has brought in a stack of new players this season with Denaro revealing just seven players from last season played in the club’s round one team.
Denaro, who has been coach of the Sharks since 2020, said the new players have been exciting for the club.
“We have had a massive change of our list, which has been really exciting for the club,” Denaro said.
“And the players that we brought into the club, guys like Lucas Failli, Carlo Riccardi, Bailey Kirkman, Cassius White, Joshua Covelli, of course, and there’s others that I’m gonna miss.
“We’ve brought a lot of really good footballers into the club, but equally important there’s been probably another 20 that have come along.
“We are definitely in a far better position now than what we were last year.
Denaro believes his side can challenge the best in the competition.
“We think we’re going to be pretty competitive to be honest,” he said.
“We think we can match it against any team and so far, obviously Roxburgh Park and Tullamarine got the better of us but we’ve got a lot of improvement.
The Sharks have won one game from their first three games this season.
Denaro said his team is improving weekly and that strong inroads are being made in parts of their game with contested footy the area needed for improving.
“By the time we get to the middle of the year, we would like to see that we’re going to be right in the mix and hopefully we grab that last or second last spot in the top four,” he said.
Denaro said time was required for his team to gel together.
“Because we are such a new list, it’s gonna take us quite a few games before our boys get used to playing with each other,” he said.
“We had eight players in round one that played at the club last year, that’s a massive turn over so we’re going to get better as we go.
Speaking about their injured star player Joshua Covelli, who kicked seven goals in round one for a best on ground performance, Denaro hinted that he could be back earlier than expected.
“Of course getting Joshua Covelli up and running, I think a lot of people think it’s a season ending injury… the only thing I will say is you will see Josh play sooner rather than later,” he said.
Hillside played fourth placed Rupertswood in their round four clash.
Results: meltonmoorabool.starweekly.com.au/sport/
