Chiltern coach Luke Brookes confident his side can remain a finals force
YOUNG SWANS: Chiltern teenagers Ashton Brookes, Nick Stephens and Dylan Van Klaveren have been training hard and are expected to be given senior opportunities this season. Picture: TARA TREWHELLA
Chiltern proved to be last season's surprise packets after notching 15 wins to climb from 10th on the ladder the previous year to second.
Although the Swans exited the finals in straight sets, Luke Brookes' charges proved how dangerous a proposition they can be after claiming the prized scalp of Thurgoona late in the season.
But can they remain a finals force without star forward Ricky Whitehead who has relocated to Western Australia?
Brookes caught-up withThe Border Mailthis week and is adamant the Swans won't be one hit wonders.
BRENT GODDE: Ricky Whitehead obviouslydeparted at the end of last year but have you been able to keep your list intact?
LUKE BROOKES: We have probably lost two recruits that would have played this year. Otherwise we will be fairly similar to the previous year.
BG: Your biggest signing since last year was former Henty star Zorran Bin Busu. Do you expect him to play this season?
LB: I'm not 100 per cent sure but we are still talking to him. Zorran has just become a father recently and is weighing up his options.
BG: How have you approached the pre-season?
LB: Most of the players were really keen to have a crack, so we have been training at a good intensity. We have got a fair few kilometers into the legs and approached it like a normal pre-season.
BG: Ash Van Klaveren has stepped down as co-coach. You are keen to coach outright?
LB: I've decided to coach by myself this season. Ideally we would like to sign an assistant coach with the view of having a bit of a succession plan where he can coach the following year.
BG: Sounds like you are still keen to recruit then?
LB: We haven't appointed an assistant coach and would like to fill that position with the right recruit if possible. We are still talking to a few other recruits as well. But I'm more than happy with the list and if we sign any more, it's just a bonus.
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BG: The discrepancy in the salary cap between the Tallangatta and Hume league is a bit of a talking point?
LB: It certainly makes it a lot harder to recruit when a neighbouring league has got $15,000 more to play with. I thought Peter Cook made some valid points in his article last week.
BG: Have you got any promising kids who will be given senior opportunities this season?
LB: Nick Stephens, Dylan Van Klaveren and Ashton Brookes have been putting in the hard yards at training. They will be rewarded with opportunities at different stages this season.