Tara Murray
A strong pre-season has Hillside in good stead ahead of the Essendon District Football League division 1 season.
Kicking off the season on Good Friday against Keilor Park, the Sharks were one of the early movers in the pre-season.
The side locked in many of their key recruits early in the piece, which is something that coach Charlie Denaro was keen to do.
“It’s been a pretty good six months since last season,” he said. “With list management we had an idea about what players we wanted to target.
“We got on the front foot and three or four who we targeted early, we were able to get in and get into pre-season with them already on board.
“It’s helped them fit in with the squad.”
Denaro said they had added 15 players to the club in the off season, Several have come from Caroline Springs, while they’ve been able to get back three or four who left last season but have now returned.
Daniel Scerri and Jack Tarr are two who have crossed from Caroline Springs, with the Sharks having targeted them previously.
Scerri is a former Hillside junior. Lachlan Rzanovski has crossed from Werribee and is likely to hold down a key position.
Ryan Lojko, Anthony Prestia and Alessio Gobbo were the three big signings early on, coming across from Tullamarine.
Denaro said while they know they still have some work to do, there had been some good signs in the pre-season.
“We had a slow start last year which was to be expected,” he said. “The key parts we’ve brought in early and were part of the group before pre-season even started.
“We’ve had three hit outs and training simulation.
“We’re not quite playing where we would like to, but hopefully it doesn’t take half a season like last year.
“We are ahead of the game.”
Having had a strong half to last season, the Sharks believe they are in a better position this time round.
Denaro said finals were again the aim. The Sharks finished sixth last season, six points outside the top four. This year with the arrival of Deer Park and St Albans, it will be a top five that play finals.
“We want to be competitive with the top two-three teams, we weren’t able to do that last year,” he said.
“The West Coburgs, Tullamarine and we would put Deer Park on that list.”
The Sharks will face Keilor Park on Good Friday.
The Devils will be a new test, having come up from division 2 where they won the premiership.
Denaro said he was expecting the Devils to surprise a few teams this season.
The Sharks will again have plenty of activities for the kids and fundraising activities on Good Friday.
The women’s side will kick off action facing Oak Park, before the Sharks and Devils reserves and seniors will play each other.
