SCOOP: Well Gaz, great to see you back for another crack in charge of Redan. Given the age profile of the group last year, what is the plan ahead of the coming season - get more experience around them or persevere with the teaching?
GARY LEARMONTH: We love what our young boys bring and several such as Liam Farnsworth are likely to play their 50th senior game in their first real year ineligible for the junior competition. A better run with injury will ensure greater competition for spots and a spike in overall performance. We have picked up several guys in their mid-20's which will help, but our greatest strength is the youthful talent coming through. The coaching group remains focused in the teaching space.
S: In six of your last 12 games you've conceded 100 points or more. Has there been a focus on teaching the (predominately) young group how to defend?
GL: We limped to the line late last year with 20 plus players unavailable so I’m not worried about those numbers. (However) it is an area that we need to improve on and full team defence will be front of mind. We have brought in several defenders as well as Nick Barker (from injury) so we will be much stronger (in this area). We hope greater stability in the team will see us a more competitive and capable side who can wrestle momentum and deny opposition sides multiple goals.
S: Consistency is always an element of frustration with a young group - is the solution simply to keep playing them or is it important for them to go back and find some touch in the reserves or U/18s?
GL: Our U/18's and Reserves will look totally different with a large influx of U/17's and U/19's stepping up so guys will need to perform to hold their spot in the senior side. We will back guys in - educate and support them over the journey to play good footy and create opportunities. Consistency is something we will be looking for across the board.
S: Former Geelong VFL listed player Lachie Bond was an exciting addition last year but had an injury interrupted season. Will we see him in Redan colours this year?
GL: Lachie has signed on again at Redan for 2025 and is currently training with Brendan McCartney at Port Melbourne VFL. We're hopeful we'll see him for some games throughout the season adding to our forward set-up.
S: Lachie George has been a real asset for you since joining from Williamstown VFL a few years ago - what's his plan for 2025 and are we likely to see him play more time forward?
GL: Lachie was terrific last year winning our best and fairest and working with our midfield who were pretty much all Under 19's (excluding him). He'll continue to lead our midfield with a spell forward depending on match-ups or a run off half back.
S: BFNL Rookie of the Year Khy Jess is a raw talent. He knows how to find the footy as good as any but his decision making to kick or feed by hand is a work in progress. What have you tried to add to Khy's game over the Summer to aid development matching it with the 'big boys' through the middle of the ground?
GL: Khy has spent the Summer training with Essendon's VFL side so I’m hoping that the experience will see him VFL listed or at least come back to us in even better shape to continue his development. With a more stable line-up in 2025 I’m sure we'll see Khy's kick to handball ratio change and see him continue to be a key player in our side who's dangerous with ball in hand.
S: Congratulations to the club on the drafting of Jonty Faull to Richmond - that would have given the place a nice boost - tell us a bit about him....
GL: Terrific for the club particularly the junior program who did all the leg work in supporting Jonty's development. He's a great kid - loves the contest, has a booming boot on him and is comfortable in the air and on the ground. We would have loved to see him run around one more time last year in the senior side (after a four-goal debut in 2023) but it wasn't to be. It's a huge step up but Jonty is mature and has a wonderful work ethic which will give him a great shot at the top level. The club will follow his progress closely.
S): Give us three next gen players we can expect to see genuinely impacting games this season?
GL: Rory Gunsser- started last year really strong but had ankle surgery and missed a large chunk of the season. Has spent the Summer at Essendon VFL and has worked hard on his running (beautiful Kick).
Rudie Forde- exceptional athletic ability - with a full pre-season under his belt we feel he will continue to progress in 2025 working alongside 'Georgie" and a team with Taj Bond in the ruck. Rudie had some strong performances last season against some of the better ruckman with limited preparation.
Harry Lawson- back from the Rebels, now full time with us. We expect Harry's game to spike similarly to what Khy's did last season, with the consistency of being in the one program and locking down a role in the midfield.
S: Where does Redan think they're at - year two into a development phase, looking to spike quickly up the ladder or simply in the space of having a dip with playing finals a bonus?
GL: No doubt we're still in a development phase but that doesn't mean we can't win more games than we lose and move up the ladder in 2025. Our aim will be to play finals in all three grades and hopefully we will be in a position at the back of the year to win a final. The comp is so even that all sides will be looking at finals. We know we're a bit off Melton, Darley and East Point but we did beat two of those three in 2023 so playing good football is our focus and hopefully that sees some wins chalked up along the way.
S: Does the extra two game season and opportunity to play each other twice make it the hardest flag to win in recent times?
GL: It will be great to play each other twice, a chance to develop rivalries further and enable better continuity with two more games into our players. The last two flag winners had to endure some hardship either having no facility or losing one of their own, so I don't feel it will be any harder. The comp is in such a strong position with any team capable of beating anyone on their day so whoever wins will have earned it. Our club is in a good place at the moment and I’m excited about what the season has in store.
PLAYER INS:
Brody Pope (Horsham Demons - 2024 Wimmera Rookie of the Year), Jordan Grant (Hepburn), Jordie Keyte (Horsham Saints), Harry Knight (Trentham), Dean Chester (Carisbrook), Zach Lang (Overseas)
PLAYER OUTS:
Marty Boyer ('Wagga way'), Nick Kelson (Albury), Riley Collins (Beaumaris), Lincoln Barnes (Qld).
VFL AFFILIATED PLAYERS:
Cooper Craig-Peters (Footscray), Lachie Bond (Port Melbourne train on), Rory Gunsser (Essendon train on), Khy Jess (Essendon train on)
PRACTICE MATCH SCHEDULE:
March 22 -vs Drysdale (home)
March 29 -vs Eaglehawk (home)
IMPROVERS TIP (OUTSIDE OF REDAN):
GL: Sebastopol
FLAG TIP (OUTSIDE OF REDAN):
GL: Darley
