WITH a full complement of coaches and coaching staff and around 20 of the senior squad regularly at pre-season training, Casterton Sandford senior football coach, Kane Forbes, believes the Cats are in for a big season.

Season 2023 is less than two months away, the Cats scheduled to head over the border to West Gamber for round one on 22 April and the re-appointed Forbes said exciting things were ahead for the Cats.

”We’ve been really impressed with the numbers at training and we’ve got some really good kids coming up, putting their best foot forward and showing up at training every week, so that’s going to put some pressure on some spots, come the start of the season,” Forbes said.

“And we’ve had a few juniors on the track each week … Archie Lane, Jedd Rhook, a few others.

“Hopefully we can teach them a bit and help fast-track their development.”

Forbes said the club was excited to appoint senior player and former junior coach, Justin Carlin, to the Reserves coaching role for 2023.

“Obviously Justin’s worked really hard with me over the past couple of years, been my assistant coach and has grown from strength to strength.

“I’m really excited to see what he can do with his own side.

“We’ve got really high hopes and expectations of (the whole senior squad) … neither of us are coaching just to make up the numbers, we want to go as deep as we can in September and we’re really looking forward to where we can take the group.”

Nathan Fidler has been named Under 16 coach and Forbes said his experience as a senior player and coach would bring volumes to the junior team.

“Nathan is an invaluable asset to the club, he’s sort of taken a step back from big roles for a couple of years, but he’ll be a great leader and teacher for that developing team.”

Carlin said he was pleased with the faith the Cats’ senior staff had shown in his ability to lead the Reserves side and looked forward to what 2023 would offer.

“Nobody’s really talking or worried about what’s going to happen next year,” he said.

“We’re just all keen to get out there … I’m keen to build on what (former Reserves Coach, Joey McArlein) started and hopefully bring home the premiership.”

The Cats have also reappointed Tim Killey as assistant senior coach, Darren Carlin again will bring his experience as a player and coach to the Under 12s and Tim Rhook again takes on the junior co-ordinator’s role.