By RUSSELL BENNETT
THE Cora Lynn senior side will have a vastly different look when it takes to the field this season.
A number of big-name players have departed, with some of the club’s impressive younger brigade stepping up to help fill the void. Two-time premiership coach Travis Marsham has also moved on.
But any other Ellinbank and District Football League (EDFL) side that underestimates the Cobras this season will do so at their own peril. They still have plenty of venom – enough to see them match it with anyone in the competition.
Ruckman David Main has assumed the senior coaching duties this season from his great mate Marsham, with Warren ‘Cowboy’ Cawcutt coming across from Pakenham to coach the reserves.
Of the notable premiership players who have departed, Nathan and Matt Langley have returned to Hampton Park, while gun midfielders Sean and Luke Marchetti and Jeremy Monckton, centre-half back Mitch Wallace and x-factor forward Jackson Dalton have all headed to Red Hill. Ruckman and Cobras favourite son Brad Horaczko has retired due to persistent knee troubles, but the decision wasn’t one that was taken lightly – in fact it wasn’t made until late January. Tough nut Liam Toole is taking the season off, and – at this stage – so too is his brother, the silky-skilled Jordan. Jaxon Briggs, meanwhile, is at VFL side Casey.
But in their place comes Jason Toan from Ashwood in the Southern Football League – a utility that Main admits the Cobras have been chasing for quite some time. Darren Maggio, who has come off two years away from the game but was also at Ashwood, has also joined Cora Lynn; but arguably the club’s biggest addition is playing-assistant coach Chris McKay. Formerly from Berwick, he will serve as Main’s midfield coach. He works for the St Kilda Football Club in its performance analysis department but Main is confident the Cobras should have him for at least seven or eight games, plus finals should the side make it. The gun midfielder will offer plenty on-field, but it’s off field and structurally where he’s set to boost the Cobras most.
Teenage gun Brett McCleary – brother of premiership key defender Justin – has come across from Mornington, while a host of the Cobras’ existing young guns – including Kaleb Fox, Rylan Smith and EDFL reserves best and fairest Justin Markulija are set to enjoy expanded roles in the senior side. Experienced pair Nick Helsby and Daniel Uzarevic will also be key to the Cobras moving forward.
But just look at some of the players Cora Lynn still has – skipper Tim Payne, Ricky Clark, Nathan Muratore, Jack Allen, Anthony Giuliano, Ryan and Nathan Gillis, and Brady White – and it’s clear just how strong the Cobras will still be.
“I’ve got no doubt that other teams would have done their homework on us, but at the same time we’re trying new things as well,” Main said.
“I think some of the one-on-one match-ups this year will just go to another level with the off-season recruiting of other sides.
“We’re very excited.
“The pressure that we had on us last year was enormous – it kept growing as we won every week – and the way the group handled it definitely prepared us for this year. It’s something that we can look back on learn from.
“We know what we want to achieve again this year, but we’ve got small blocks and milestones we’ve got to tick off throughout the season to try and make that achievable.
“We’re trying new things – the game is always evolving and we’re trying to stay one step ahead of where we were at because we have to. Every other side in the comp wants what we’ve got.”
