New look: Torquay Tigers recruits Aaron Nesbitt and Hamish Jarrad outside their new clubrooms. ERIN PEARSON
TORQUAY Tigers will unveil 20 new players this season in an attempt to bring down dominant Bellarine league sides Geelong Amateur and Drysdale.
Torquay’s Luke Rayner said he was looking forward to leading a mix of youngsters and “experienced new recruits” into his third season as coach.
“The majority of recruiting has certainly had a focus on bolstering our midfield strength,” he said.
“Hamish Jarrad and Aaron Nesbitt will join the side after spending the past three to four years with the Cairns City Cobras and I think they’ll bring great leadership with them.
“By round nine we should be seeing great things happening with the side.”
Nesbitt, 30, played with Hamilton Imperials, East Ballarat and Lake Wendouree before moving in 2006 to Cairns where he coached the Cobras for three seasons.
He wanted to return to Victoria to be closer to family at Hamilton and Ballarat.
“It’s been a really smooth transition into Torquay,” Nesbitt said.
“I’m hoping to bring a little bit of experience and leadership to the club, as they have a lot of good young kids.
“I hope with where I’ve played I can bring a little bit of knowledge across and to the young kids.”
Nesbitt said Victoria’s wet weather football would suit his type of play.
Club president Ross Henderson said the Tigers would blood other new players from across Victoria.
“We’ve had a few young guys turn up who have moved from the country and others who’ve started at Deakin University as students and are boarding in Torquay and looking for a game of football,” he said.
“That’s the luxury of the town and we’re in the enviable position that these things can occur,” he said.
“The big challenge now is for the coaching staff to blend in new players with existing players while maintaining the game plan.
“So far we’re pretty happy.”
Other recruits include 2009 Whitely medallist Jace Kelly of Inverleigh.
The Tigers lost veterans Tim Carson and Kent Webber at the end of last season to retirement and Isaac Baker and Ash Graham to other leagues.
The Tigers begin their 2011 season against reining premier Drysdale on April 9.
