Michael Rudd heard the murmurings all summer – was this the year St Mary’s was going to fall away?
The proof appeared undeniable.
There was the departure of a wealth of premiership experience, minimal recruiting, save for the arrival of Ryan Pendlebury and Bayley Cockerill, and the return of Paddy Dowling, while coaching great Glenn Keast had also hung up his clipboard.
But five rounds into the new season, with wins over two-time reigning premier Leopold and third-placed Newtown & Chilwell to their name, these unbeaten young Saints are going nowhere.
“I think we’ve started, exceeded all expectations in that sense, because there was a lot of talk – certainly from other clubs – about writing us off almost,” Rudd told K rock Football’s Beyond the Boundary podcast.
“We did lose 10 players from our senior side last year, but I think what’s happened is sort of the older crew have moved out and it’s sort of like a younger crew coming up through who are really well connected and stuff.
“So it works pretty well.”
St Mary’s next challenge is unbeaten St Joseph’s in a blockbuster Big Freeze Geelong clash at Anthony Costa Oval on Sunday
After 15 local identities brave the slide and the icy water below from 12:30pm, the Saints will go toe-to-toe with Joeys, looking to snap their arch-rival’s 24-match home-and-away winning streak.
Rudd, who is on the list of VFL club Port Melbourne, was an emergency for the Borough last week.
However, he’s happy to wait for his next opportunity at state league level to remain at St Mary’s for another week.
“The fact that I haven’t played much footy in the VFL level is indicative of why I want to play the St Mary’s-Joeys game,” Rudd said.
“Just because this whole year I’ve been with the St Mary’s team, and we’re really building something strong.
“So I’d love to give it to the best in the comp.”
The Saints will be boosted by the return of premiership duo Jarryd Garner and Jesse Travaglini and the experienced Chris Jansen, while North Melbourne VFL-listed Matt Keast is also in their squad.
They replace Harvey Ryan (foot), Nick Dowling (calf) and Noah Biggs.
St Joseph’s, at this stage, has lodged an unchanged squad.
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