By Nick Creely
All Tooradin-Dalmore’s Under 19 coach Daniel Conroy wants is young men who are willing to work hard and play for the jumper.
The Seagulls, who have a long and proud history in the region, are battling for numbers ahead of the 2018 Under 19 season, with only half a squad locked in ahead of their opening round clash against Pakenham on 7 April.
But Conroy; supported superbly by president Greg Kelly and his committee; are working stringently behind the scenes to not only fill a side, but bring in young men with great character.
“The squad’s currently at 12 confirmed, and it’s not ideal with 16 sessions to go, but we’ll keep battling through; we’re working behind the scenes heavily and we’ll do what we can and get boys to our club,” Conroy said.
“They just have to get here, and they’ll understand their not just a number; that’s the biggest point I want to get across, Tooradin put in a lot of time with their juniors.
“It might be a bit of dire straits at the moment, but I’m confident; we’ve got a great committee; I’m 100 per cent confident, behind the scenes we’re working extremely hard.”
Kelly is also looking for help from neighbouring SEFNL clubs to help provide juniors, and was rapt with the support they’re receiving to get a side up and running.
“We’ve been speaking to other clubs in the area, and we’ve been on the phone to Shane Baker at Cranbourne and he’ll do a bit of ruffling around for us, and see if there are any boys that are available to come down here,” Kelly said.
“It’s the same with Narre Warren; they’re doing their best to find us some numbers.
“It’s not viable unless we’ve got three teams playing on the Saturday; it’s impossible to run a day with only seniors and reserves, it’s very difficult.
“We’re confident, and we’ll make it; it’ll definitely happen.”
Conroy hopes to create an environment that isn’t about the wins and losses column necessarily, but about maturing young men and improving their chances of going on to senior football.
“Pushing forward, I want to implement the line coaches like seniors do, and just maturing them and trying to prepare kids for their footy future,” he said.
“Winning’s great, but culture is the most important; I really want to develop these young guys coming through to play for the jumper; each club has those players that rock up and think they’ll get a game, I want to bleed that out.
“Attitude is number one, I just want good guys with a good head on their shoulders , and who just want to develop and have a kick; they only have to touch down here to know what we can give them.”
If anyone is interested in joining the Seagulls’ Under 19’s for 2018 can contact Daniel Conroy on 0447544574 or danielconroy24@gmail.com
