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Recruits to help Lions claw up ladder

Posted on March 18, 2010, 3:03pm

IF pro-active recruiting means anything at all, then put a line through Heywood finishing on the bottom of the ladder – as it normally does – this season.

They have been the so called ‘easy beats’ of the Western Border Football League competition for more years than most can recall.

The appointment of a new chief executive officer in Shane Ryan part way through last season has resulted in a huge shake-up at the home of the Lions.

Winless since July of 2007, Heywood is thoroughly sick of missing out on the September action and has taken radical measures to rectify it.

Heywood appointed Brad Sinclair as its new coach and although coming in a non-playing capacity, he has been instrumental in enticing not one former AFL player to the Lions – but four!

Three time Brisbane Lions premiership defender Mal Michael heads the shopping list and he will be joined by former Collingwood players Brad Fuller and Brad Smith and ex-Essendon player Courtney Johns.

Admittedly one player won’t bring a premiership, but four players who have experienced the highest level in the land will make a hell of a difference.

Heywood has also enticed former players Joshua and Benjamin Nash back from Warrnambool and has even edged into Portland territory to dip its toe into the water and see what’s available.

Losing last year’s best and fairest Nick Johnstone to Queensland is a blow, but the quality of recruits far outweighs his loss.

Sinclair is coming off a premiership in the Ellinbank league in metropolitan Victoria where he coached Mal Michael last year and said 2010 is all about the Lions regaining respectability.

“We are certainly not talking premierships, how can you when you are coming off two winless seasons?” he said recently.

“Instead we want to make our presence felt in the competition.”

Heywood starts its 2010 campaign with an away game schedule against West Gambier on April 10 and will use that opportunity to unveil its new jumper design

West ironically will be coached by Keith ‘Hooker’ Ransom, Heywood’s coach of the last three seasons.

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