Reservoir is preparing to be a much more competitive force in Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 this season, following a tough initiation back into the competition last year.
The 2015 Division 3 premier was anchored to the bottom of the ladder for the entire 2017 season, finishing the year with only one win in its return from a year in recess.
But despite the tough return, head of football operations Shane Culpin says the club’s off-season recruiting has it hopeful it can be in finals contention in 2018.
“Obviously our aim is to play finals and with the recruiting we have done in the off-season, we feel like we have extra depth to get us to that stage,” Culpin told NFNL.org.au.
“Our season last year was pretty disappointing, so we have worked hard in the off-season to get fit and recruit players to fill in the gaps.
“I think you will see a different side this year.”
Senior coach Aaron Collins has brought experienced duo Paul and Justin Cluney across from Jacana to strengthen the Mustangs’ defensive stocks and Culpin admits the duo have been standouts on the training track during the summer months.
“They were the main two that we targeted in the off season,” Culpin said.
“After last year we knew the areas we needed to work on, so we went out and got two very handy players.
“Both Justin and Paul should slot straight into our backline come Round 1 as they are setting the standards and showing their elite defensive abilities out on the track.
“At the end of the season, we spoke about what we needed and we went and got them, so we are happy about that.”
Reservoir has also added Moonee Valley midfielder Trent Gleisner, Braybrook defender Thomas Stoneham, Maryborough’s Samuel McDowell and Craigieburn’s Jordan Williams among a host of inclusions this pre-season.
Culpin said the club had focused heavily on increasing the fitness base of its playing group since the Christmas break.
He also conceded that putting on size was an area that needed to be addressed following the 2017 season.
“We had a lot of young kids in the middle last year who were slight bodies, and although we have recruited bigger bodies to rotate through the middle, we have also been able to get our midfield group to a point where they are fit and ready to go in hard,” he said.
“A lot of work has been done to make sure our players, in particular our midfielders, are putting their head over the footy and going in hard.
“Not only working on the inside but also being able to run and carry on the outside and create contests around the ground.”
Having only won one game since its 29-point Grand Final triumph over Epping in 2015, Reservoir will be looking to find some early wins to build early confidence and momentum.
The Mustangs be hoping to replicate that result when they host the Blues at Crispe Park in Round 1 on April 7.
