Emerald FNC – 2022 Season Preview

A change in senior coach at Emerald Football Netball Club has instilled enthusiasm and belief into the playing group, as the Bombers set their sights on season 2022.

Moving into the senior coaching position at Emerald following previous stints at Mornington and Cranbourne, Sein Clearihan introduced a tough, but well thought out training program for his players over the off-season, the highlight of which was a Saturday morning trip to Dromana for an intense day of running.

“With a 4am start at Emerald, the boys had no idea where they were going and Sein took them to Dromana for a run up Arthurs Seat,” said club president Mark Pedder.

“The bus then picked them up at the top of Arthurs Seat, took them back down the hill for a two-hour beach session and the back at Emerald for breakfast by 12:30pm.

“Not only was it a great fitness session, but it was a great bonding session as well and Sein has really exceled to this point of the pre-season because he has brought a lot of passion to the group.”

The trip to Dromana has been the pinnacle of a training program where attendance has been great with 40-50 players from U19’s right through to the senior grade training each week.

Match simulation and tuition of the game plan have also been focal points where it is hoped the football department will gain a lot of benefit from it.

The U19’s had been training with the senior squad up, but will now separate into their own training program on Wednesday nights, where senior players Jake Pedder, Josh Rich, Brendan Wilson and Jack Thomas will share the coaching duties between them.

“They have been working really well together,” Pedder explained.

“With a lot of our U19’s expected to get a run in the seniors at some point throughout the year, this coaching initiative has been a really good thing to do and it’s been great for the boys coming in from the junior club to automatically have that affinity with the senior boys.”

Key player highlights from the football program include the recruitment of Aiden Gajanovic from Hampton while Jordan Donadel, Lachlan Hoye, Mehdi Daoud and Nic Jansen will also make their return.

Despite initially struggling for numbers to attend training sessions, the netball department will be able to comfortably fill four senior sides once again with a view to continuing their great form from 2021 as Kaylah and Delylah Loulanting return for another season.

However, the Bombers are still on the lookout for a senior coach to lead the netball program at the Bombers, with all interested parties encouraged to get in contact.

Ahead of season 2022 where disruptions are expected to be a minimal, Pedder says he is excited about what’s ahead and is looking forward to getting back to normality in the context of community sport.

“I am really confident that we are going to get a full season in this time and it will be really nice to get into that rhythm of playing football and netball each week,” he said.

“The expectations are always to make finals, I believe all our football and netball teams are good enough to get there, but it also comes down to planning and a lot of luck.

“We are all pumped and ready to go.”