Harper Sercombe
Albion is setting out for revenge in the Western Region Football League division 2 season.
After losing the grand final by, quite literally, a bounce of the ball last minute against Parkside, the Cats are remaining in the second string of the league, determined to do what they couldn’t in 2023.
Now, the goal for the Cats is simple, premiership or bust according to coach Blake Richards.
“Last year my personal goal or pass mark was to make finals, obviously we achieved that,” he said. “This year we probably do want to win the flag.
“Then get into A-grade and potentially try to make finals in A-grade which would be a pretty big stepping stone over three years to go from winning four games to potentially making A-grade finals.
“I think the list is good enough, the club’s in a really good position so there’s no reason we can’t.
“[This year] the club had the option to go up which a few other clubs had in division 2.
“Last year we had a really positive year so we just wanted to reiterate that and hopefully get these guys a premiership and then hopefully get back into A-grade and have sustainability in A-grade which is our aim.”
Richards said the hunt for the premiership is on the right track, with fitness levels building and new recruits being dragged in by the Cats.
“Last year was my first year coaching here, so I know the players and I know how fit they were last year,” he said.
“The ones that have been training look like they’re a lot fitter and a lot stronger which is good.
“I think health and fitness has really come into football a lot more since COVID. I think guys are really looking after themselves outside of football to get themselves really fit. ”
“I’ve noticed that the guys are working harder at the moment, especially the ones in the senior group that missed out. So hopefully the work leads to a good result for them.”
Headlining the recruits for the Cats is former player and star of the competition Joshua Bench. He returns to the club from Altona, where he was the Vikings’ best and fairest in 2022 and 23, with 2022 being a premiership year for the club. He has also been a part of the division 1 team of the year in each of the past three seasons.
Amongst the club’s other recruits is, Brandyn Di Sisto and Jared Bond from Werribee Districts’ reserve team, Juy Capp from St Kilda City, Troy Clarke from Hill End and Josiah Garisto, who was on Essendon’s Victorian Football League list in 2022.
