Pre-season Update
Football Director, Rino Cialini updates on the ROC's pre-season
Pre-season training for the 2016 season commenced on November 24, 2015 - under new club coach Sean Jackson.
After 10 solid sessions prior to Christmas with fitness (and new B Grade) coach Craig Lambert, the players enjoyed a well deserved break during the festive season. The squad resumed training at Rostrevor College on January 11. The club is again extremely fortunate and thankful to have access to the school grounds.
The numbers out at training have steadily improved,and we are now regularly seeing 45-55 players at most sessions.
Some of the player losses for 2016 will include: Ross Christie (Strathalbyn), Nathan Hornhardt (Bute), Josh Moyle (interstate), Lachlan Surman (year off), and a couple of others are undecided at this stage.
The great majority of last year's B Grade premiership team will again be available, and pushing for A Grade selection. Recent old scholars out training for the first time have included : Jake Bowler, Michael De Palma, Tom Hollis, Carlton Hollsten (Macquarie Uni), Fergus Lynch, Tom McGovern, Isaac Nakone, Bailey Nisbett (West Ad. U/18/Res), Tom O'Leary, Harrison Raphael and Luke Turner, Brendan Littler and Mitchell Sutcliffe are making steady progress from their long term injuries. Mick Aloisi.(South Clare), Michael Ciaramella, Tullio DeMatteis (Nwd), Mark Dzido, John Harrison (Old Ignatians),Craig Holm (United), Scott Littler (interstate) and Nick McDonough have returned to the club.
2015 Best and Fairest Will O'Malley, will continue as captain of the club in 2016. The leadership group will also include Tim Baccanello, Heath Commane, Tom Hurley and Daniel McCallum.
Jacko's assistant coaches for 2016 will be Paul Behrendt, Craig Lambert and Ryan Nelson.
Commane, Holm, Hurley and Will O'Malley have been invited to train with the SAAFL State squad, which will again have Jacko, at the helm.
Wahib Joubeir (Physio) and Vicki Lines (Head Trainer) will once again run the medical side.
Training will move back to Campbelltown Memorial Oval in late March, or as soon as East Torrens Cricket Club's commitments have concluded.
Leading up to Round 1 (16/4), trials have been organised for :
March 17 - Internal at Thebarton Oval
April 2 Vs Salisbury North, at Salisbury North
April 9 Vs SHOC, at Campbelltown
The club is eagerly awaiting the start of the new season. Round 1 is against Tea Tree Gully, at Campbelltown.
New President Anthony Medhurst and his committee, together with the players and coaches, look forward to seeing you all at ROC Park on April 16, for the start of another exciting new season.
Rino Cialini
Football Director
