INCOMING Greensborough senior coach Ben Turner believes it will take a team effort to fill the void left by departing key forward Tim Bongetti.
Bongetti made the transition to Seymour in the Golburn Valley Football League following a stellar 2014 season, where he booted 63 goals and led Greensborough to a drought-breaking premiership – the club’s first in the top flight since 1989.
But rather than lament the departure of the potent forward and co-captain, Turner has taken a glass half full approach.
“It will give us a sense of unpredictability this season,” Turner told NFL.org.au.
“We don’t just want one guy replacing him. I think if we spread the load around the forward line and midfield we will be a dangerous side.”
Turner this year takes the reins as senior coach after serving a long and successful apprenticeship at Greensborough.
He guided the Boro’s under-19s to the Grand Final in each of his six years as coach, winning three consecutive premierships between 2009 and 2011, before serving as an assistant to Robert Hyde during last year’s premiership campaign.
As he prepares for his first season as senior coach, Turner has forecasted a younger looking Greensborough side in 2015, hoping the injection of youth could potentially propel his side to even greater heights.
“We have earned a reputation in recent years for blooding kids and that will continue this year,” Turner said.
“I think our improvement will come from these kids. We need to keep encouraging them to take that next step, and it will keep a few of the older guys honest.”
The Boro’s seniors weren’t the only ones to taste success in 2014.
The 19s were crowned premiers after defeating Montmorency, while the reserves fell agonisingly short in their Grand Final, losing by a point to West Preston-Lakeside on the last kick of the game.
That loss denied Greensborough becoming the first club since Reservoir-Lakeside in 1975 to win the Division 1 premiership in all three grades in one season.
However, playing off in all three Grand Finals means the depth at Greensborough heading into 2015 is very strong, and competition for spots will be high.
Turner praised the club for being proactive in the wake of its Grand Final triumph last season.
The Boro moved swiftly to lock away their players for the 2015 season, with Bongetti the only player to not put pen to paper.
“Our priority after the Grand Final was to sign up all the players. We were pretty successful in doing so,” Turner said.
In another boost for the reigning premier, Collingwood VFL representative Nick Riddle will make a full-time return to strengthen Greensborough’s backline.
Riddle, who was co-captain of the VFL Magpies in 2013, played just six matches for Greensborough last year but was an important member in defence during the finals series.
The 22-year-old was named at centre half back in the NFL’s Division 1 Team of the Year in 2011 and is a member of the senior interleague squad to take on the VAFA this month.
“We are excited about having Nick back this season,” Turner said.
“He is a very talented player and will add a lot to our side over the duration of the year.”
After climbing the mountain in 2014, Turner believes Greensborough are poised to embrace the extra pressure on them this season, rather than be overwhelmed by it.
“We don’t feel any added pressure,” he said.
“The boys feel like they have a point to prove. They are hungry for more success.”
Greensborough kicks off the 2015 season against Eltham on Good Friday at War Memorial Park, where the club will unveil last year’s premiership flag.
