Macleod coach Christian Stagliano says he hasn’t noticed any lingering scars within the playing group after three-consecutive grand final defeats.
The Roos fell to West Preston-Lakeside by nine points in last year’s Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 decider. Since winning the 2015 flag, they have lost the past three grand finals by a combined aggregate of just 28 points.
Stagliano, who was named as Garry Ramsay’s successor in October, says he has been impressed by the players’ attitude and commitment throughout his first pre-season at the helm.
“I’ve found the energy really good and the guys are quite positive and really hungry about the year ahead and what we’re trying to do as a club,” Stagliano told NFNL.org.au.
“I guess it’s different for everyone. The guys all handle it differently and in their own way.
“By the time we started training it had been long enough since the grand final that they were all right, fresh and ready to go and looking forward to another crack at it, which was pleasing.
“As a group, I’m impressed with how hard they train. The intensity at training is really high. That’s something that has impressed me from day one.”
Macleod has been active during the transfer period, with Stagliano expecting the Round 1 line-up to have at least five changes from the grand final side.
Star utilities Ned McKeown (North Albury) and Jack Langford (Banyule) have both found new homes over the off-season, while Laurence Schubert and Joel Kidd won’t play in 2019.
The new inclusions are headlined by a host of Coburg-listed players, whose availability will be dependent on VFL commitments.
They include ruckman Adam Swierzbiolek, former Gold Coast academy members Brody Foster, Harry Simington and Muhammed Saad, Canberra NEAFL defender Jack Baker and his cousin Mark.
Whittlesea and Epping premiership midfielder Matt Dornauf returns to the NFNL after spending the 2018 season with Echuca, where he kicked 15 goals in 21 matches.
Ruckman Jake Chiminello has returned following a season at Heidelberg West, while Adrian Totino and Aron Burns have also landed at De Winton Park.
“In terms of the VFL guys, obviously at this time of the year we haven’t seen a heap of them, because they’ve spent most of their time at VFL level,” Stagliano said.
“We’ve found that a lot of the guys who have come in we’ve been really fortunate they’ve come in through the relationships they’ve got within the club with the players or with myself in some way and the other coaches.
“The other guys that have come in have settled really well and seem to know the guys better than I do in terms of they’ve had relationships with the players within the group for quite a while, which has made their transition quite easy and seamless.”
Stagliano said Anthony Doherty had been a standout on the training track after last year earning selection in the Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 Team of the Year, while Liam Brandt, Hayden Seivers, Jack Bianchin and Fraser Pope had also had strong campaigns.
2018 Frank Rosbrook medallist Lucas Hobbs has overcome the hamstring injury which sidelined him from the grand final, while Nick Lynch has completed the majority of pre-season after being restricted to just six games last year.
“With Hobbsy, there’s been no sign of that injury at all,” Stagliano said.
“He’s obviously a fairly dynamic player and he’s got a significant leap for a bloke who plays in the midfield and that hasn’t dropped off at all.
“He’s done everything right. He’s a real professional and (the injury) hasn’t shown any signs of giving him grief or slowing him down whatsoever.”
Stagliano has previously coached at Banyule when the club competed in the VAFA, before taking on development roles with Collingwood and Gold Coast.
He said he was enjoying his return to a senior coaching role, where he is working alongside assistants Jason Fraumano, Marc Fratto and Trent Baldac, and reserves coach Ron McKeown.
“I’ve loved it to be honest. It’s been really enjoyable, and I’ve had a lot of fun thus far,” he said.
“I’m enjoying that one on one contact with the guys and looking after and developing the program with the other coaches we’ve got and the senior players. It’s been fantastic.”
Macleod takes on Doncaster in its final practice match this Saturday, before hosting North Heidelberg in Round 1.
