Club preview: Young blood will improve Saints

THE preview series of men’s and women’s teams ahead of the 2023 season start continues today with the club that will benefit from the youth policy it has adopted in recent years.

SAWTELL/TOORMINA

2022 Results – Mens: 5th; Womens: 4th.

SUMMER TRANSFERS

Mens – In: David Johnson (Burleigh, Qld), Jai Langenberg (UNSW Eastern Suburbs), Jake Phillips (Werribee Centrals), Malakai Troutman (Goondiwindi Hawks), Hamish Bird (Northern Beaches). Out: Hamish Anderson (Surfers Paradise, Qld).

Womens – In: Shania King (Northern Beaches), Emily Sutherland (Bellingen). Out: Maddy Adams (Port Macquarie), Lilli-yana Moody (Southport, Qld).

The only way is up for the young Saints.

Both the men’s and women’s teams at Richardson Park gave younger players their first tastes of senior football in 2022 and placing its faith in the kids should see Sawtell/Toormina enjoy natural improvement this year.

The women’s team weren’t far away from reaching the finals last year.

Although they’ve lost young gun and joint League Best & Fairest winner Lilli-yana Moody who has gone to Southport, the Saints girls have recruited running machine Shania King to help lead the midfield.

The men’s team has also recruited strongly and is at very short odds to improve on the two wins the Saints had in 2022.

The club starts this season on a positive note hosting the Anzac Round clash against cross-town rival the Coffs Breakers and then a month later will no doubt produce another spectacular scene when it hosts the Indigenous Round against Grafton.