Kade Stewart’s return a major boost for Katanning Wanderers in bid to rise up the ladder

Katanning Wanderers have been buoyed by the return of South Fremantle premiership player and ex-Hawthorn forward Kade Stewart for the 2021 Upper Great Southern Football League campaign that starts on Sunday. Stewart has moved back to his hometown and will be a major boost to the club’s hopes of rising up the ladder along with the return of 2017 UGSFL premiership winning coach Mark Pinney. The pair join captain James Laurino who will lead Wanderers for a third year, in what is set to be an exciting leadership package. “He (Stewart) just creates the excitement for the boys and for us as a club and hopefully, with a bunch of young blokes coming through, he can be someone they can learn from through his leadership and experience,” Pinney said. Stewart played a key role in the Bulldogs’ 2020 WAFL grand final victory but is delighted to be home. “It’s exciting and fun to be back playing here,” Stewart said. “It’s a different standard and expectation of footy, so it’s got a lot more good vibes about it and is more enjoyable.” While Stewart is a big boost to the side’s leadership group, Pinney said the players to watch this season were the young ones coming through the ranks. “I am excited about the kids who played in our 2018 colts premiership side coming through to our senior side this season,” he said. Pinney said the club has had 54 different players throughout pre-season training which has strengthened their stocks after last season’s struggle to find players. Wanderers finished second last in 2020 but won their final match and have been impressive in pre-season games to ensure they have plenty of momentum heading into Sunday’s season-opener against rivals Narrogin Hawks. Wanderers captain Laurino acknowledges the positives from pre-season but urges his side to focus on each game one at a time. “We are going to treat Narrogin like any other game of footy,” Laurino said. All Wanderers players will be presented with their jumpers at a presentation tomorrow night from 6pm at the Sprig Bar.