First-year Melton Centrals football coach Glenn Hopkins has a big responsibility.
Centrals have long been known for having some of the best junior players in the Riddell District Football League and Hopkins has been charged with turning them into senior stars.
While no one knows how long it will take for a player to make the jump from promising junior to regular senior footballer, Hopkins is pleased with the workrate he has seen from his players as they prepare for season 2015.
“There are no time limits on it,” he said.
“We’re just trying to develop and grow these kids as much as we can and make it so that they want to stay at our football club and keep learning at this club.
“We are patient and that’s the way we have got to be.”
As well as focusing on development, the Centrals added some strong recruits in the off-season.
Peter Corredig will hold down the centre-half back post after coming from Warrnambool.
He will be looking for support from midfielder Liam Toohey, who has crossed over from La Trobe University. Shane Long has joined the club from Western Region Football League side Deer Park.
This trio joins Rex Hickman, who was the club’s prized recruit before Christmas.
Hopkins said a key to the Centrals’ recruiting and development had been to work with players who could play multiple roles.
“We are working again to develop all the players as good all-round footballers,” he said.
The Centrals will play two practice games in the lead-up to round one.
The club will host Western Region side Caroline Springs on March 28 before taking on Essendon District team Tullamarine a fortnight later.
Hopkins says a decision on the club’s captain and leadership group would be made soon.
“We haven’t appointed captains yet. Certainly the captain and the leaders emerge through the pre-season,” he said.
