GNFL 2024 season preview: Brigades have finals in sights this season despite off-season departures

Key departures will have Brigades looking like a much different side from the team that went out in straight sets last year.

The minor premiers from 2023 will go into this year without their club’s best and fairest and runner-up best and fairest after brothers Kim and Jayden Schofield moved to Chapman Valley.

Club president Dean Pascoe said while losing two of their best players was not ideal, they were excited about the young talent coming through the club.

“We wished them all the best when they went to Chapman Valley. We understand what Jayden and Kim are trying to do and I think they’re doing a good job over there,” he said.

“We’ve got a really good youth program coming through, a lot of colts kids coming up through the ranks.”

The club is excited about their young talent coming up, with the expectation that they will perform in the league side.

“Even though we’ve lost two or three senior players, I think we’ve really filled those gaps with the youth … I’m still very confident we’ll be right there at the pointy end of the year,” Pascoe said.

The Hawks have been a reliable team to reach finals but haven’t found success there in recent years.

Pascoe believed the team could get over the finals hump this year.

“We had such a good year last year and to fall short with the last two games and not even make grand finals was disappointing at the club level,” he said.

“I’d like to think we can get to that same position again this year and actually win those last couple of games and get to the grand final.”

After a dominant season where they went undefeated and took home the premiership, the Hawks’ women look to rebuild after losing a large chunk of their team.

“I think from our women’s team, we’ve lost probably 14-15 players; eight of them have gone to Towns,” Pascoe said.

“We’ve been very short, we’ve got a lot of new girls that have come on board; some have never played football before and others that are coming back.”

Despite all the departures, Pascoe said he was “confident” they were going to be a good side this season.

GLENN BARNDON’S PREDICTION: THIRD

Brigades are a consistent finals contenders that disappointed, with the minor premiers going out in the preliminary final. However, they have lost as many as seven of their best 22 from last season.

The Hawks have recruited some useful players and have good depth with developing youngsters that will make a new-look side.