Sunshine is keen to pick up where its 2015 Western Region Football League campaign left off.
The Kangaroos were one of the form sides of the competition in the second half of last season, recovering from a slow start to narrowly miss finals.
Highlighting their second half improvement, Sunshine beat Werribee Districts, which went on to play in the grand final, and Altona, which was knocked out in the elimination final.
The campaign was a big tick for coach Brendan Hallinan.
Now leading the club for his second season, Hallinan said this pre-season had been a lot smoother.
“Last year we were bringing in a whole heap of new recruits and a new game style and trying to understand the strengths of the players who had pulled on Sunshine jumpers for many years,” he said.
“With 12 months under my cap with the club, I understand where the club is at, where the strengths lie within my team and what we needed to do to add to the strength of the squad over summer.
“I think we have done that.”
Leading the list of ins for Sunshine is Tom Black, who crossed over from VAFA club PEGS.
He will split his time between the Kangaroos’ forward line and midfield.
He will be joined by Daniel Castellano, a forward from the North Central Football League.
Aaron Searle trained with Sunshine last year while playing in the Wimmera Football League and has now joined the Kangaroos full time. He will settle into the club’s midfield.
“That’s what we were after in the off season, guys who could help us kick big scores and play within our system,” Hallinan said.
“We’re a much younger squad than we were in 2013 and 14. That’s a good thing for the future direction of the club.”
One player not returning to Sunshine this season is former club captain Macauley Goring, who has signed with division 2 club Yarraville Seddon.
The Kangaroos are expected to announce their new captain this week.
“We think that’s a very important role among the playing group,” Hallinan said. “We have gone to great lengths to make sure we have the right captain because it’s a young squad and we need someone capable of teaching, leading and guiding.”
Sunshine will begin its division 1 campaign this week against last year’s premier, Deer Park.
The Kangaroos will then take on Albion and Werribee Districts before a bye in round four.
