Colts Find New Level in Pre-season

PEEL Thunder’s emerging young talent has reportedly torn up the track this pre-season, and with a new coach at the helm, there is plenty of excitement around the club.

The Thunder’s Colts squad was released on Tuesday, with 42 players on the main list and eight named in a development squad.

There are also nine players from Peel’s country zone in the south west, and Peel Player Development Manager John Deitz said that showed the pathway was strong in that region.

Peel’s track record in recruiting players from that region is strong, with the likes of Essendon’s Ben Howlett and North Melbourne’s Aaron Black following the country pathway to Peel before eventually finding a home at AFL level.

“It’s a really good result, it shows that there is plenty of talent down there, it’s a positive thing and hopefully we can continue building our brand in the south west zone,” Deitz said.

But with new coach Beau Wardman taking up the reins at the end of last season, Deitz said the morale around the group is strong.

“He’s been fantastic in all he has brought in terms of professionalism, organisation and the way he’s embraced the footy club and the program,” he said.

“He’s brought a really good team of coaches with him, and our strength and conditioning staff have got the boys in really good nick.”

And Wardman’s troops are hellbent on impressing their new coach, with the players were supremely fit and ready to make their mark in 2015.

Before Christmas, seven players have run over 15 in the beep test, with Josh Schoenfield recording a 16.1, which illustrated the elite levels of fitness in the group.

“We’re a long way ahead of where we were in terms of fitness, and we’ve had some great results during the time trials as well, so these kids are really cracking in and putting in the hard yards, which is great to see.

A skipper will be named following a training camp later this month, with a captain, two vice-captains and two deputy vice-captains to be named.

 

PEEL COLTS SQUAD 2015

Jordan Adams, Zac Beckman, Connor Besci, Robert Bird, Alexander Bray, Jackson Burkett

Alex Cohen, Karl Collard, Damon Cramer, Mitchel Curnow, Hayden Davis, Josh Eddy

Jake greenwell, Chris Howat, Michael Humble, Noah Hura, Liam King, Haydn Matthews,

Kaine May, Joshua McMahon, Braiden McMullen, Nicholas Merritt, Brett Milward,

Travis Naughton, Matthew Nind, Brandon Penny, Joshua Porteous, Keegan Power

Cody Schnaars, Joshua Schoenfield, Samuel Shackles, Blake Shanahan, Luke Shepherd,

Brandon Smith, Deakin Stein, Calvin Thorne, Jack Tomerini, Josh Webb, Dixon Wight

PEEL DEVELOPMENT SQUAD 2015

Tom Boyle, Mathew Digney, Reece Dillon, Trent Goodrick, Dylan Heasman, Ash Humphreys

Jacob Perry, Lewis Smith, Mahli King