Football
9 April, 2024
Kalkee 2024 Season Preview
A look at Kalkee's 2024 season in both football and netball and a message from President Josh Beddison.
Kalkee enters the season with an abundance of youth with Steve Schultz and Andy Devereaux the key to developing them.
The Kees have lost Simon Hobbs to retirement as well as Jasper and Harvey Gunn, who have moved to Horsham with the bulk of their recruits from their under-17s.
Schultz said they have put a lot of time into them.
"We had a fair few come up from the under-17s so we have put time into them to develop them to senior football," Schultz said.
"All the young ones are very keen to learn and to take the next step in their football journey, so it will be good to see how they go.
"We want to create a good culture where everyone is enjoying their football, especially being a young team."
Whilst finals are always a goal in football, Schultz said they are looking to improve first and foremost and develop a good culture and will see how things go.
"We had a lot of injuries last year and we are reasonably confident with our team this year," Schultz said.
"With two coaches, we can put time into a lot of players and who knows what can happen. It is something that can probably be assessed halfway through the year."
Schultz said their game style will be simple with a fast game style.
"We want to move the ball as quick as we can, running in numbers and utilising the youth we have," Schultz said.
Of the young players, Schultz mentioned a couple that are ready to take the next step.
"Paddy Mills and Isaiah Adams will get midfield minutes this year and from our practice matches they are ready to take the next step in their footballing careers," Schultz said.
"Josh Milbourne as a key position player is looking good. He has played forward a few years and has played in the truck and we have tried to get a few positions into him and we will see him step up another level this year.
"Charlie Millar won our best and fairest in the under 17s last year and so he will get a lot of opportunities."
Kalkee open their season at home against the Stawell Swifts.
NETBALLERS PUSH FOR PREMIERSHIP TILT
In 2023, every Kalkee netball grade played finals with its B Grade and 15-and-under teams winning premierships and in 2024, the club is buzzing.
Last year they finished third on the ladder but lost in the first week of the finals.
Paula Wiedermann returns to coach again and from last year's team they have lost Jedah Huff, Rhianna Kuhne and Millie McCrae due to work, pregnancy or travel and Wiedermann highlighted their importance to the club.
"I hope these girls will come back next season as they are extremely valued players at Kalkee," Wiedermann said.
They have recruited well with Lily Johnson and Kirrily Jackson coming across from South Australia and former league best and fairest Jenna Bywaters also returning. Also boosting the team is Jarrah Martin from their junior development program.
"They will be able to fullfill the roles of these girls as they can play midcourt, defence and goals," Wiedermann said.
"Jarrah Martin is our upcoming junior development player from last year and will play a role in goals as she did last year. She is much stronger and boosted with confidence.
"Combined with Bywaters, they are a great combination in the ring together. Lily is a fast-paced midcourt player who has a great eye for creating play and feeding the goalies."
"Molly Lakin, Emily Polack and Clair McDonald all look great in defence and are solid"
Wiedermann said the club is excited about what they can do this season.
"We are extremely excited about this season and the new formatting of rolling subs," Widermann said.
"It will make the game more interesting and a faster pace which opens up the opportunity for more development with our junior development program we have in place.
"Hopefully this year we will capitalise on last year's structures and court plays and the development of juniors through the senior grades."
"We have always had great numbers at Kalkee, especially with our juniors and I believe this year with the vision we have in place throughout the club we will be very successful as in previous years."
FROM THE PRESIDENT
Kalkee President Josh Beddison is excited about where the club can go in the coming years. Labeling it as 'a changing of the guard', he believes the club is in good hands moving into their next phase.
"We are looking good with numbers in both football and netball," Beddison said.
"We are focusing a lot on the environment and having a sense of belonging to the club and just enjoyment and getting around each other.
"With the youth coming through, it's a bit of changing of the guard as we haven't done this for a long time and it can set the club up for many years."
With the football side being a young team, he said the club is lucky to have Schultz and Devereaux at the club.
"Steve has been a decorated footballer in this region in what he has accomplished. We are very lucky to have him. His knowledge, professionalism and expertise are second-to-none and having him in charge of a young group is great," Beddison said.
"Andy is a professional guy and will bring a lot to the team. He had an injury last year which propelled him into coaching and pairing him with Steve will be fantastic.
"He is a strong half-back and will give plenty of drive and leadership out on the field and with a young team it is important to have someone with a cool, calm head out there."
"On the netball side, we are in a position this year to promote junior netballers to senior grades that will generate us through the next generation."
Beddison said that the club is lucky to have Paula Wiedermann in charge of netball.
"Paula is a very decorated netballer. She has spent a lot of time here and has several A Grade premierships," he said.
"We are looking strong there again. Paula is experienced and has played a lot of high-quality netball so to have her in charge of the girls in A Grade as well as mentoring kids is great.
"Her professionalism, skill and hard work are very valuable and we are lucky at this club to have professional experienced people to pass their knowledge on."