Evans’ true to his word

Beaconsfield is hoping Brent Heus can transfer his goal-kicking exploits with Bunyip into a big season for the Eagles. 117254 Picture: STEWART CHAMBERS

By DAVID NAGEL

Casey Cardinia Football Netball League – the build up

IT was less than 30 minutes after his sides’ 17-point loss to Cranbourne in last year’s preliminary final, but Beaconsfield coach Clint Evans already knew what was required to take the next step.
“We just miss one or two players… real quality… probably another on-baller and a forward target would do the trick,” he said after the loss.
Well… Evans has been true to his word, the recruitment of Noble Park mid-fielder, Tyson Mitchem, and Brent Heus, a 100-goal kicker for Bunyip last season, has provided Evans with the tools he needs to break the three-year stranglehold of Cranbourne and Narre Warren of playing on that last footy day in September.
But, as Evans is well aware, you also need some luck.
While Mitchem and Heus add a hard-edge through the mid-field, and some high-class finishing up forward, the Eagles have some well-documented injury concerns that they’ll need to overcome in the early part of the year. Exciting siblings, Damien (finger) and Daniel (leg) Johnson, who won’t be seen until the middle stages of the season, are the main concerns for a side that, given its rise from fifth to third last season, will have high expectations heading in.

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