Sport
17 April, 2023
Rupanyup aiming for back-to-back flags
After coaching Rupanyup to the 2022 premiership, Braydon Ison is at the helm again and the Panthers have recruited well to give them a big chance to go back-to-back. The midfield has been boosted by three big recruits in Bill Hansen, Keiran Sait and...
After coaching Rupanyup to the 2022 premiership, Braydon Ison is at the helm again and the Panthers have recruited well to give them a big chance to go back-to-back.
The midfield has been boosted by three big recruits in Bill Hansen, Keiran Sait and Jacob Christie.
Hansen made his debut as a 16 year old for Corowa-Rutherglen in the Ovens and Murray Football League. Since then, he has been a premiership player with Modewarre in the Bellarine Football League and for Mooney Valley in the Essendon District Football League. He is a hard running midfielder who not only wins the football but can be damaging on the spread.
Ison is particularly excited about him.
“The Ovens and Murray League is a very strong league and Bill will bring a lot of experience and class into our midfield,” Ison said.
Kieran Sait is a big bodied inside midfielder and contested ball beast who can also play across half back.
Jacob Christie is a contested ball machine with silky skills previously playing for Birchip. In a recent practice match he showed his skills and poise as one of the best players on the field.
The club are also bullish on a couple other recruits.
Tom Arthur joins the club as a running back flanker with strong contested marking ability.
Cooper Reading is a Centre Half Forward/Ruckman with experience in the Wimmera Football League and Maryborough Castlemaine League. He uses the football well and will be a real asset to their big man stocks.
Angus Adams is a well-built outside player with silky skills on both sides of the body, he will be prominent across wing and half forward.
Josh Bolitho has bent the last few seasons playing for East Geelong and he will bring a bit of size about him as a skilful and reliable half back flanker.
Ison said the focus will be like last year which won them the Premiership.
“We will look to move the ball quickly when we can. We have the players that can move it fast. When we don’t have the ball, team defence will be the focus.”
The Panthers have a big traveling base this year which gave the juniors a chance to get noticed during the pre-season.
“A lot of the juniors have been coming two nights a week to training and developing well and we will look to give them games,” Ison added.
Ison pointed out two juniors who have impressed and earned their chance at senior football this year.
“James Finnigan and Albie Kingston are looking really good and deserve their spot and should be good players this year and going into the future.”
The Panthers open their premiership defence against Natimuk and Ison isn’t taking them lightly.
“Natimuk seems to have recruited well. We can’t go into the game thinking we will win. We will have to be ready for a challenge and if they bring it then we will have to better it,” he concluded.