DARYN Cresswell spent his first day on the Border yesterday doing two things — unpacking boxes and making football calls.
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Actually, it was probably vice-versa.
If premierships were won on the amount of time a coach spends on the phone then the Wodonga Raiders are well and truly back in the business in the Ovens and Murray.
“It’s been fairly hectic, but it’s good to be here,” Cresswell said.
“Things are going pretty well.
“From my point of view we have recruited well so far and I’m looking forward to training starting on November 10 with a week of testing.”
Henty youngster Sam Murray and Rand-Walbundre full-forward Josh Warren-Marmo are the latest signings at Birallee Park.
Cresswell is confident they will complement the earlier arrivals of Southport pair Todd Grayson and Jake Goldsmith, former Raider Dean Heta, Palm Beach-Currumbin’s Matt Derrick and Mitta United forward Aidan Adams.
“Sam and Josh will be good for us,” he said.
“We are speaking to a few others but I think we are in reasonable shape.
“I think our defence is pretty solid now and another forward would be handy to help big Goldy (Goldsmith) and I wouldn’t mind a few more mids.
“Hopefully we can rejuvenate a few of the players who have had tough years.”
Big Luke Visser will be like a recruit after being struck down with injury early last season.
Cresswell is fresh from taking Palm Beach-Currumbin into the AFL Queensland preliminary final, with his position as coach being taken by former Wodonga Raiders player Chad Owens.
“I actually got him across to Palmy last season and batted hard for him to get the job,” Cresswell said.
”He understands the game really well.
“I didn’t actually know he was from the Raiders when I got the job here.”