Sport
7 March, 2023
Dennis and menacing Demons
ANTHONY Dennis is back at Calivil with a mission to rebuild the Demons’ menacing style of play and rise up the Loddon Valley league football ladder. The Demons’ 2017 premiership coach took the team through its paces on Friday night, the first run...
ANTHONY Dennis is back at Calivil with a mission to rebuild the Demons’ menacing style of play and rise up the Loddon Valley league football ladder.
The Demons’ 2017 premiership coach took the team through its paces on Friday night, the first run at Calivil after training all year at Raywood.
Dennis said the club had recruited well in the off-season but could still slot in a few more talls.
“You ring 3000 people to get three or four players,” Dennis said of the challenges that have faced country clubs since the COVID-interrupted or abandoned seasons.
“It’s good to be back home at Calivil but COVID really did put a dampner on country footy and it’s now harder to recruit.”
But recruit Dennis has done in the quest to make Calivil more competitive over four quarters and avoid a repeat of 2022 when the Demons won just two matches, losing multiple games by less than a kick and picking up the wooden spoon.
Major signings have been defenders Jack Maher and Henry Miller, ruckman Justin Hymes and onballer Cody Thompson.
Dennis said Calivil would also give opportunities to half a dozen East Loddon Rams juniors tied to the club with development through the reserves.
“That’s what country clubs are about ... helping juniors and making for a sustainable future,” Dennis said.