By Tara Murray
Sunshine is backing in its youth with a focus on the long term in the Western Football League division 1 competition this season.
The Kangaroos have returned to the top flight for the first time since 2022 after winning three premierships last season.
There has been some turnover in the off season, with several of the Kangaroos stars departing.
Coach Guy Barbuto said for them it was about the bigger picture this season.
“People come and go,” he said. “We’ve had the mentality that we’ll build with the reserves and under-18s after the success that they’ve had and then will recruit from there.
“It’s a good position to be in. Obviously a few played on the weekend and they played in spurts last season.
“There will be more opportunities this year and they’re looking forward to that.”
Barbuto said the guys pushing for senior spots had worked really hard in the off season.
Diesel-Thanh Lim, Matt Curran, Liam Keenan-Hayes, Luke Barnard and Marcus Mangion are some of those players that Barbuto said he expected to get more opportunities.
While they’ve lost some experience, Barbuto said they don’t see it as a rebuilding year for them.
“All bar a couple have been at the club for a long time,” he said. “The 18s had success and are coming into open age.
“About 50 per cent will come up into open age next season and will develop into footballers. You look at successful sides; they have successful junior programs.
“We may not have success in the immediate future, but we’re looking down the track.”
Barbuto said their average age was 23-24 bar a couple of senior players and he said they would be all in their best years in three to four years time.
The Kangaroos started their return to division 1 with a loss to Parkside in round one.
Barbuto said there were two 10 minute patches in the match which cost them. They lost 17.9 (111)-8.9 (57).
“It was an even contest outside the first 10 minutes of the game and the last 10 minutes of the second quarter,” he said.
“They kicked four goals in each of those periods. It was an even contest apart from then. They were a bit smarter at ground level up forward as well.”
The Kangaroos are set to face Albion on Saturday.
It is a division 2 grand final rematch from last season, when the Kangaroos beat an undefeated Albion in the grand final.
Babuto said they were hoping to get some players back into the side for the match.
The Cats started their season with a loss to Point Cook Centrals.
In other matches, Caroline Springs are at home to Hoppers Crossing.
In division 2, Albanvale plays Sunshine Heights and Braybrook faces West Footscray.
