REIGNING Northern Footy League Division 1 premier Greensborough will have a 63-goal void to fill when it defends its flag next season.
Star forward Tim Bongetti has left the club to play with Seymour in the Goulburn Valley Football League in 2015.
Borough coach Ben Turner admitted the loss would be keenly felt but said the goalscoring responsibility would be spread among the side’s other forwards.
“Of course, it’s very disappointing to lose a player of his quality,” Turner said.
“You take out 60 goals… we’ll have to spread it around next season.
“Rhys Boyden missed about a dozen games last season so having him back will help. Then you have the likes of (Luke) Stanton, (Andrew) Stellas and (Josh) Grubb.
“Josh Riddle will also be back with us after two seasons overseas so he’ll be another option.”
Turner said the club had its eye out for potential recruits but that the first priority had been to secure its other players from last season, which has been achieved.
Turner is replacing club stalwart Robert Hyde, who retired at the end of the season, as coach.
Bongetti’s four seasons at the club, which included a long spell as captain, ended in glory last season when the Borough ended its 25-year wait for a premiership with a grand final win over rivals Heidelberg.
He was superb throughout the campaign, amassing 62 goals before he received a four-game suspension in Round 17.
That extended layoff looked set to rule him out of a grand final appearance but a loss in the second semi final meant the Borough played for one more week and Bongetti served his suspension in full prior to the decider.
He added a goal in the grand final to finish the year with 63 in 18 games.
Seymour president Gerard O’Sullivan said the club was “very pleased” to complete the deal.
“He’s a very good player and seems like a pretty good sort of bloke. Our coach (Brent Colbert) made the approach.”
Bongetti played junior footy at Greensborough before moving on in a career that included a spell in the VFL at Werribee.
This article is courtesy of Leader Newspaper.
