GSFL 2020 North Albany preview: Kangas will take time to get their hop

North Albany believe it will take a few weeks to find their feet with a combination of new players and a new coach for the upcoming GSFL season. New coach Leigh Hislop has taken over the side that finished fourth last season and has had a high turnover in senior premiership players, including midfield star Matt Orzel. Orzel has decided to hang up the boots in a big loss while young gun Alex Pearce is playing for Claremont and Jacob Hobbs has moved away. However, Hislop is excited about the young crop of talent coming through the junior grades including Talon Delacey, new recruit Kieran-Phoenix-Whittaker and the returning Taj Williams, who spent last season playing for Albany. The Kangas will regain 2016 Alan Barnett medallist Jack McPhee, who has returned from a year overseas while Addison Dew is back from playing seniors at Claremont. Dew played two league games for Claremont in 2018 and has played 32 reserves games during his WAFL stint, including being part of last year’s reserves grand final team that lost to West Perth. Connor Spinks and Todd Retallack have also returned to the Kangas for 2020. Hislop said he is excited about the challenge of an unusual season and new team. “We are confident that we will be competitive this season, and will challenge teams as we progress as a group,” he said. “We will be trying to work out how we play the first few weeks with a big changeover of players and myself being a new coach. “I’m still trying to work out a few things. “We will be looking at key match-ups in the first game and hopefully go well.” 2019 finish: Fourth Captain: Luke Cameron Coach: Leigh Hislop Ins: Jack McPhee, Addison Dew (Claremont), Connor Spinks, Todd Retallack (Boxwood Hill), Taj Williams (Albany), Kieran Phoenix-Whittaker, Jake Abbott (Kojonup) Outs: Matt Orzel (retired), Ray Padfield (retired), Jacob Hobbs, Stuart Parker, Alex Pearce (Claremont), Brock Ramsey (Boxwood Hill), Hamish Bigwood, Brodie Sumich (retired), Michael Trevenen, Daniel Parker.