BUNDOORA coach Phil Plunkett is drawing inspiration from Heidelberg’s Grand Final appearance last season as his side plans its assault on 2015.
Just as the Tigers did last pre-season, Bundoora has endured a huge turnover of its playing list after last year suffering its earliest finals exit in six years.
Amongst the key players who have departed Yulong Reserve are co-captain Brayden Shaw, star forward Cameron Cloke, Trent Barbero, David Mitchell, Kent Delbridge and Neil Gloury.
All six were integral to Bundoora’s 2011 and 2013 premiership victories, with Cloke and Mitchell both winning the Frank Rosbrook Trophy during their time with the Bulls.
While critics may be inclined to write off Bundoora’s chances of a 15th successive finals appearance, Plunkett is keeping positive about the season ahead.
“The one thing we have spoken about is that this is very similar to what happened at Heidelberg last year,” Plunkett told NFL.org.au.
“There was a mass exodus and everyone was writing them off and yet they were the first team to be able to go through to the Grand Final last year.
“That’s another bit of inspiration that we can take from that, losing so many and gaining so many young kids that young enthusiasm will hopefully spill over to success on the field.”
Bundoora has quickly set about replacing its departing stars, using the off-season to secure a number of key signings.
Key defender Ben Shelton has returned after a season at Croydon, while highly-rated brothers Josh and Nick Grabowski have joined from EDFL outfit Avondale Heights, with Josh (pictured below) also listed by VFL club Footscray.
Other notable inclusions are Diamond Creek duo Josh Summers and Luke Simpson, Epping defender Brenton Keating, Northcote Park youngster Kane Slater, Parkside’s Jack Philpot and emerging Moonee Valley tall Dom Dean Spagnolo – who Plunkett hopes will assist Matthew Dennis in the ruck.
Plunkett said having so many new faces had created an exciting feeling during the first half of pre-season.
“It’s been a real positive buzz,” he said.
“There’s that air of uncertainty of ‘What are we going to be like?’ and ‘Where are we going to be sitting?’ and that sort of excitement.
“Because it’s really a brand new group for me I don’t know where they sort of sit just yet (but) at this stage I’d have to say that I’ve been really pleased with everyone’s input.”
After a famous premiership win the year prior, 2014 ended abruptly for Bundoora following a 26-point loss to Macleod in the elimination final.
Upon reviewing the season, Plunkett indentified a need to inject pace into his team.
“Probably the thing that stood out when we did a bit of a review of last year was the three sides that ended up first, second and third were fast, quick and young sort of teams,” he said.
“The likes of us and Montmorency were a bit bigger and a bit stronger yet they were able to run us off our feet.
“That’s one area that we’ve looked at and thought that could be the way that we could really change it and try to make ourselves a bit quicker and a bit fitter.”
In somewhat a changing of the guard, Plunkett predicted Macleod as the team to beat in the upcoming season.
“Macleod with the way that they finished off last year and the group that they’ve been able to keep and then add to with Lucas Hobbs coming along, I reckon they’ll be the benchmark to try and chase,” he said.
Credit: Photo of Josh Grabowski courtesy of Jag Imaging – 
www.jagimaging.com.au
