A few more close-season bits and pieces

Photo:  Sam Tooze with his Golden Boot Award. 

South Hobart have lost two promising youngsters to other clubs as the 2022 season approaches.

Sam Tooze and Tom Walpole are on the move as South Hobart prepare to start pre-season training on 22 November.

Tooze, a natural goalscorer, was given limited NPL experience at South Hobart and has joined NPL club Clarence Zebras.

Walpole, who has starred in South Hobart’s Southern Championship side as a striker, has joined 2021 NPL champions Glenorchy Knights.

Tooze is likely to slot straight into the Clarence Zebras senior side and his partnership with Riley Dillon could bear much fruit in terms of goals.

Walpole may need a little more experience, but he meets the Knights’ need for an out-and-out striker.

Photo:  Thomas Walpole heads a goal for South Hobart. [PlessPix]  

******

Devonport Strikers have appointed Welshman Thomas Ballantyne as their senior coach for the 2022 season to replace Chris Gallo.

He comes from the Mackay Magpies in Queensland and also has experience as an academy coach with Adelaide United.

Devonport have withdrawn from the 2021 FFA Cup, where they were scheduled to meet Victoria’s Avondale.

The travel difficulties associated with the COVID situation in Victoria prompted Devonport to five the 2021 FFA Cup competition a miss.

*****

Photo:  Eamonn Kelly is back into coaching. [PlessPix] 

Eamonn Kelly and John Fiotakis have been appointed joint coaches of Olympia’s Women’s Super League side for the 2022 season.

Matt Kilsby, who coached the side last season, remains as Olympia's technical director.

Clarence Zebras Women’s Super League goalkeeper, the vastly experienced Shelley Cook, has moved to Olympia to be their women’s goalkeeping coach.

Photo:  Adam Powell (right) watching a game with former women's coach Chris Hey. [PlessPix]  

Clarence Zebras’ new Women’s Super League coach is Adam Powell, who replaces 2021 title-winning coach Ronnie Bolton.

Powell coached Clarence Zebras’ Championship women’s side this past season.

*****

Photo:  Andy Brennan during his Bentleigh Greens days. [PlessPix] 

Several reliable sources are saying South Melbourne Hellas have signed Andy Brennan.

If this is so, it will be Brennan’s third stint at the famous NPL Victoria club.

Brennan, 28, who began his football career at South Hobart, played briefly in the A-League with Newcastle Jets.

He has also played for Bentleigh Greens, Hume City, Oakleigh Cannons and Green Gully in Victoria.

Meanwhile, former Glenorchy Knights player Amadu Koroma, 29, is enjoying his second year in the role of fitness coach at South Melbourne Hellas.

Koroma played for New Town Eagles and Glenorchy Knights in Tasmania before leaving Knights to join Melbourne Knights in 2011.

Photo:  Amadu Koroma in his Melbourne Knights days. [PlessPix]