2013 Football

FOOTBALL AND NETBALL 2013

GVFL GVNL PDFL PDNL KDFL

KDNL MFL MNL TAC CUP

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„ Page 2 Football and Netball 2013

Supporting country football and netball Your team for the Goulburn Valley

(Back) Bill Sykes MP, Paul Weller MP, Damian Drum MP, (Front) Jeanette Powell MP

For assistance with State Government issues contact: BILL SYKES MP (Benalla) PH: 5762 2100

PAUL WELLER MP (Rodney) PH: 5482 2039

JEANETTE POWELL MP (Shepparton) PH: 5831 6944

DAMIAN DRUM MP (Northern Victoria) PH: 5443 6277

Authorised by Paul Weller 26 Percy Street, Echuca.

for Regional Victoria

CONTENTS Cover picture: (from left) Katandra’s Bec Dudgeon, Tatura’s Rob Montgomery, Nathalia’s Matt Davies, Shepparton East’s Mark Frost and Violet Town’s Ben Ballinger.

Tipsters ...........................................................................5 Goulburn Valley Football League – an overview ................................................................7 Goulburn Valley Football League – team profiles ..............................................................8 Fixtures – GVFL, MFL, KDFL, PDFL ................. 30 Junior football – SDJFL overview ..................................................... 34 Youth girls’ football – an overview ............................................................. 35 Kyabram District Football League – overview and team profiles .............................. 37 Murray Football League – overview and team profiles .............................. 42 Picola District Football League SE – overview and team profiles .............................. 47

Contributors: Marc McGowan, Hannah Driscoll, Patrick O’Meara, Damen Francis Photography: Ray Sizer, Julie Mercer, Simon Bingham, Jayme Lowndes, Bianca Mibus, Bruce Povey, AAP Editorial design: Bree Harding Sub-editing: Ron Anderson

Kyabram District Netball League .................. 51

Advertising inquiries: Andrew Pogue 5820 3188

Goulburn Valley Netball League..................... 52

Advertising design: Brendan Cain

Murray Netball League ....................................... 54

Published by Shepparton News Melbourne Rd, Shepparton 5831 2312

Picola District Netball League ......................... 55 Murray Bushrangers – overview and fixtures ......................................... 56 Umpires ...................................................................... 58

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www.sheppnews.com.au facebook.com/sheppartonnews twitter.com/sheppartonnews

FOOTBALL AND NETBALL 2013 W

elcome to Shepparton News’ ninth annual football and netball magazine.

We trust you will enjoy reading it as much as we enjoyed compiling it.

This year’s magazine previews the fortunes of every club in the Goulburn Valley, Murray, Kyabram District and Picola District southeast division football and netball leagues.

We reveal each club’s major ins and outs, make predictions on where they will finish – never an easy task at this stage of the year – and offer a platform for coaches to tell you why they are finals bound.

The region’s TAC Cup under-18 side Murray Bushrangers is also up in lights in a double-page spread.

Let’s hope we get some more AFL draftees this year.

We have also set aside a page each

to look at the new-look Shepparton District Junior Football League and the area’s inaugural Youth Girls’ Football League, which will include teams from Mooroopna, Notre Dame, Kyabram and Echuca.

It is great to see girls getting the chance to experience the game we all love and not having to travel outside the region to do so.

Other magazine features are our editorial team’s tips for each league, the season draws, a stack of photos and an insight into the umpires who enable football and netball matches to go ahead.

We hope to see you out at games this year – wherever you are and whoever you support – as we strive to provide the state’s best country football and netball coverage.

Marc McGowan Shepparton News sports editor

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Marc McGowan

Patrick O’Meara

Damen Francis

Sports editor

Sports reporter

Sports reporter

GVFL: Shepparton United MFL: Echuca United KDFL: Violet Town PDFL SE: Tungamah

GVFL: Rochester MFL: Echuca United KDFL: Rushworth PDFL SE: Waaia

GVFL: Rochester MFL: Finley KDFL: Violet Town PDFL SE: Tungamah

GVNL: Kyabram MNL: Mulwala KDNL: Murchison PDNL SE: Katandra

GVNL: Kyabram MNL: Mulwala KDNL: Nagambie PDNL SE: Katandra

Morrison Medal: Paul Newman (Kyabram)

Morrison Medal: Dan Lovick (Swans)

GVFL leading goal-kicker: Saad Saad (Seymour) 100

GVFL leading goal-kicker: Grant Weeks (Rochester) 107

Hannah Driscoll

Gus Underwood

Ron Anderson

Sports reporter

Sports reporter

Sports sub-editor

GVFL: Rochester MFL: Echuca United KDFL: Violet Town PDFL SE: Waaia

GVFL: Tatura MFL: Tongala KDFL: Violet Town PDFL SE: Waaia

GVFL: Kyabram MFL: Echuca United KDFL: Murchison PDFL SE: Tungamah

GVNL: Kyabram MNL: Mulwala KDNL: Murchison PDNL SE: Katandra

GVNL: Kyabram MNL: Mulwala KDNL: Nagambie PDNL SE: Katandra

GVNL: Kyabram MNL: Finley KDNL: Murchison PDNL SE: Shepparton East

Morrison Medal: Dan Lovick (Swans)

Morrison Medal: Mark Blake (Mooroopna)

GVFL leading goal-kicker: Grant Weeks (Rochester) 103

GVFL leading goal-kicker: Grant Weeks (Rochester) 110

GVNL: Kyabram MNL: Finley KDNL: Nagambie PDNL SE: Katandra Morrison Medal: Daniel Lewis (Mooroopna) GVFL leading goal-kicker: Jason Eagle (Shepparton United) 110

Morrison Medal: Josh Fraser GVFL leading goal-kicker: Grant Weeks (Rochester) 98

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Football and Netball 2013 Page 5

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o-one is safe this Goulburn Valley Football League season.

An off-season recruiting bonanza has set the scene for potentially the most competitive season in the league’s recent history.

A genuine finals case can be made for 10 of the 12 clubs – sorry, Shepparton and Euroa.

Reigning premier Tatura has a new coach, Scott Grigg replaces Steve Daniel, and a newlook list, with ex-VFL players James Wall, Rian McGough and Ben Waite the big additions.

The Bulldogs have lost seven premiership players. An exodus like that cruelled Shepparton United’s hopes of a third straight flag last season.

Marc Quarrell’s United bowed out in the preliminary final last year and look stronger this season, with full-forward Jason Eagle’s tattooed guns back in the Demons’ holster.

Quarrell wants United to boast the No. 1 defence again and it won the 2010 and 2011 premierships when that was the case. Tatura was the best in that area last year.

They say defence wins premierships.

But the league-wide consensus is Rochester is the team to beat in Peter White’s second year at the helm.

The Tigers generated plenty of hype at this time last year, but their latest recruits are enormous, with none better than goal-kicking superstar Grant Weeks.

A Weeks-Elliot Bowen forward combination and the competition’s best midfield, including Morrison Medal runner-up Ash Watson, interleague representative James Brain and newcomer Daniel Anderson, will make them tough to deny.

Rochester’s 2012 finals campaign was a major disappointment – tough scheduling aside – and redemption could be a further motivation.

Mooroopna and Kyabram have also enjoyed rich summers.

The Cats looked set for a rebuilding year

GOULBURN VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAST 10 PREMIERS: 2012: TATURA 2011: SHEPPARTON UNITED 2010: SHEPPARTON UNITED 2009: MANSFIELD 2008: ROCHESTER 2007: SEYMOUR 2006: SEYMOUR 2005: SEYMOUR 2004: MANSFIELD 2003: TATURA PAST MORRISON MEDALLISTS: 2012: MARK BLAKE (MOOROOPNA) 2011: GUY CAMPBELL (ROCHESTER) 2010: KRISTAN HEIGHT (ECHUCA) 2009: BRIAN DURBRIDGE (SWANS) 2008: ROWAN PRIEST (BENALLA) AND LINC WITHERS (KYABRAM) 2007: TRENT HOTTON (MANSFIELD) 2006: COLIN DURIE (ECHUCA) 2005: MATT BYERS (SHEPPARTON) 2004: SHANE SCHOTTNER (SEYMOUR) 2003: RHYS ARCHARD (ECHUCA) AND STEPHEN ASH (SHEPPARTON) until rookie coach Blake Campbell announced some bumper recruits this month.

They will again be contenders, but just what impact will the quartet of fly-in players have at Mooroopna?

Many are tipping the Bombers to cause a stir.

They weren’t that far away from finals last season and an army of former players have returned and some new stars, including exAFL player Sam Sheldon, have also signed.

The Paul Newman Factor can never be discounted, either.

Mansfield and Seymour are coming off contrasting finals campaigns, with the Eagles bowing out in the first week and the Lions making a fairytale run to the grand final.

Mansfield has lost a lot of talent, but made

LADDER PREDICTIONS

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12

MARC MCGOWAN Shp United Tatura Rochester Mooroopna Kyabram Mansfield Shp Swans Seymour Echuca Benalla Shepparton Euroa

DAMEN FRANCIS Rochester Shp United Mooroopna Kyabram Tatura Shp Swans Mansfield Echuca Seymour Benalla Euroa Shepparton

a late pre-season play when it announced former AFL players Cain Ackland and Michael Handby were joining ruckman Josh Fraser in becoming Eagles.

Their early progress will be interesting to see whether they are better or worse.

Seymour has been quiet under new coach Shane Robertson, who takes over from favourite son Bernie Haberman.

There have been few ins and outs, but the Lions look a touch below last year’s quality.

Echuca and Benalla have taken aim at finals and exciting off-seasons have given those goals credence.

The Murray Bombers have a pair of AFL players in tow, with Simon Buckley and Jordan Williams on board, while new Saints mentor Luke Morgan is a star in his own right and has

PATRICK O’MEARA Rochester Shp United Kyabram Mooroopna Seymour Echuca Mansfield Tatura Shp Swans Benalla Euroa Shepparton

HANNAH DRISCOLL Rochester Shp United Tatura Mooroopna Kyabram Shp Swans Mansfield Echuca Seymour Benalla Euroa Shepparton

a promising young list to work with.

Shepparton has endured a barren summer – outside of luring retired AFL defender Jonathan Hay – and will go into battle without several of its key players from last season.

Bears coach Tim Little, fresh from winning a premiership with Tatura, has remained remarkably positive, though, which is fantastic to see.

He might know something none of us are aware of.

Euroa made progress under David Gleeson and may be better again, but the competition looks incredibly tough.

The Magpies are more likely in a two-way war with Shepparton to avoid the wooden spoon.

Marc McGowan

Football and Netball 2013 Page 7

FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1896 TO 1946; 1998 TO PRESENT NICKNAME: SAINTS GROUND: BENALLA SHOWGROUNDS COACH: LUKE MORGAN PRESIDENT: ROD COOK PREMIERSHIPS: 1940 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: T. PASQUALI (1999), R. PRIEST (2008 JOINT) 2012 FINISH: 12TH (2-16) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: AL JACKA 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: AL JACKA (30)

A

new era is dawning for Benalla and new playing-coach Luke Morgan is at the coal face.

Morgan was approached by the Saints toward the end of last season with the opportunity to lead the resurgence of their young squad.

It was an opportunity Morgan could not refuse.

“That is what the club saw and that is what I saw as well,” Morgan said.

“It has taken a bit of work to put this group together, we have worked hard recruiting guys that want to be part of our vision and we are really happy with the group we have managed to get.”

The former star VFL midfielder said the Saints had already set a goal for the new season.

“If we can get eight to 10 wins we would really think of the year as a success,” he said.

“That is certainly what we are hoping for.

“We don’t want to be inconsistent.

“We want to be playing strong footy all the way through, across all three grades.

“We don’t want to have weeks where we are really competitive and then come up against a Rochester and lose by 10 goals.

“That won’t be acceptable.”

Morgan said the Saints, last year’s wooden spooners, were a realistic chance of finals.

“If we can get on a roll, I believe we can challenge for fifth or sixth,” he said.

“The top four appears pretty set, then there are six teams where really anything can happen.”

He tipped reigning best-and-fairest Al Jacka, who had looked at joining Queanbeyan before deciding to remain with his home club, to lift to another level this season.

“He was a star last year in a side that was getting flogged,” he said.

Al Jacka

Jayden Guppy

“In a side this year that is going to be a lot more competitive, I would expect him to take his game to another level.

“He is 22 and I don’t think we have seen

anywhere near the best of Al Jacka, which is scary to think just how good he could be.”

Another Morgan predicted would have a big year was former Murray Bushrangers captain Sam Martyn.

“He is a ripper of a player,” he said.

“He may only be 19, but when people ask me who is going to be our best player this year, I find it very hard to go past Sam Martyn.

“It may take him a bit to come to terms with the physicality of senior footy, but once he learns to cope with that he is going to be an exceptional player.”

Morgan said Finley recruit Jordan Daniel loomed as another who could burst onto the GVFL scene.

He said Jake Palpratt, returning from a knee injury, had impressed on the training track, while former Bushrangers spearhead Nick Warnock and Collingwood rookie Lachie Smith would play important roles at opposite ends of the ground.

The Saints had netted Tungamah midfielder-forward Duane Haebich early in pre-season, but he has since returned to the Picola District league Bears.

Patrick O’Meara

Lachie Smith The former Collingwood rookie didn’t quite make the grade at AFL level.

But no doubt he will be eager to show his class at Goulburn Valley Football League level. Smith comes back to the competition with an AFL pre-season under his belt and

experience at VFL level.

The expectations are sure to be high.

Coach Luke Morgan has already earmarked Smith as a defender, despite him spending a lot of his junior career as a forward.

He was the Murray Bushrangers’ leading goal-kicker in 2011.

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BENALLA’S SEASON FIXTURE

Brook Martyn

ROUND 1

EUROA (A)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

SEYMOUR (H)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

MANSFIELD (H)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

TATURA (A)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

SHEPPARTON (H)

MAY 11

ruiting “We have worked hard rec

ROUND 6

SHEPPARTON SWANS (A)

MAY 18

guys that want to be a part of our

ROUND 7

ECHUCA (A)

JUNE 1

h vision and we are really happy wit the group we have managed to get ”

ROUND 8

ROCHESTER (H)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

KYABRAM (H)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

SHEPPARTON UNITED (A)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

MOOROOPNA (A)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

ECHUCA (H)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

SHEPPARTON SWANS (H)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

SHEPPARTON (A)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

TATURA (H)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

MANSFIELD (A)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

SEYMOUR (A)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

EUROA (A)

AUGUST 31

– Coach Luke Morgan

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: 10TH HANNAH DRISCOLL: 10TH PATRICK O’MEARA: 10TH DAMEN FRANCIS: 10TH

In: Luke Moran (Pascoe Vale), Brook Martyn (South Bendigo), Lachie Smith (Collingwood), Alex Hay (Deniliquin), Jordan Daniel (Finley) OUT: Brendan Stevens (retired)

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FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1909 TO 1942; 1974 TO PRESENT NICKNAME: MURRAY BOMBERS GROUND: VICTORIA PARK OVAL, CROFTON ST, ECHUCA COACH: CAMERON STEWART PRESIDENT: BRETT STEVENS PREMIERSHIPS: 1977, 1979, 1997, 2001, 2002 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: S. EISHOLD (1995 JOINT), S. ORR (1997), C. SHOLL (2001), R. ARCHARD (2003 JOINT), C. DURIE (2006), K. HEIGHT (2010) 2012 FINISH: EIGHTH (7-11) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: SCOTT MCGLONE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: RHYS ARCHARD (48)

Brendan Prendergast

Page 10 Football and Netball 2013

O

n the surface it may look like little has changed at Echuca, but that would be underestimating one of the club’s great strengths – coach Cameron Stewart.

The Murray Bombers punched well above their weight last season and, while breakout performers Matt Farrelly and Christian Burgess will not be at his disposal this season, there is no reason Stewart cannot continue to get the best out of his lower and middle-tier players.

The likes of Earl Handy, Matt Hay and Jordan Ives are still eligible to play under-18s, but have a solid platform of at least 13 games from last year to build on, while Tom Monahan and Joel McCormack-Hall are two players who could follow suit this season.

The main area Echuca has strengthened is at the elite level, with former AFL-listed duo Jordan Williams and Simon Buckley significantly enhancing the club’s leadership group.

“If they can use their voice and direction out in the middle of the ground, it’s certainly going to help us,” Stewart said.

“It’s similar to what Scott McGlone and Rhys Archard and (Brendan) Prendergast did last year, (but) all of a sudden we’ve got five or six of those sort of guys, so we’ve doubled that capacity on the ground as far as leadership goes.”

That said, Steward reiterated those leaders would be among 21 players who run out with a job to do every week.

“You like to think they would have a pretty big impact, but all we’ve asked of those blokes is to come to our footy club and buy into our culture and our environment, which they’ve done,” he said.

“We don’t expect them to be the best players every week, we would like that, but by the same token they have to have the support around them and they have

to buy into our game plan and we’ve got to buy into what they can bring as well.”

The other investment the Murray Bombers have made is in an escape clause.

Liam Wilkinson was a lone soldier inside-50 at times last season, with Archard often needed up the ground, but the addition of tall timber in Jordan Florance and Joel Wilkinson changes things.

With increased height up top rivals could see more marking options up the ground and an increase in scoreboard pressure from Echuca.

“I like to think our scoring capacity will probably rise, because we’ve got some talls,” Stewart said.

“At least we’ve got some targets, so if we are in trouble, we can kick long and at least we know that if we do pop it up in our forward 50 that we’re not just going to have one player one-out.”

Other options include LeitchvilleGunbower recruit Josh Edgar and Horsham key-position prospect Sean Christopher, who has relocated to the area as a last-minute bonus for the club.

According to Stewart, “anywhere from eight to 10” wins would signal an exciting progression for the Murray Bombers this season, but that may be easier said than done given the advancement of not only the teams above, but those either side in Kyabram and Shepparton Swans.

Not that it bothers Stewart at this stage.

“Once again we’re not looking at the end result or September, we’re just worried about the first block of games and once we’ve played them we’ll assess where we’re at,” he said.

“We’re just after genuine improvement, we won seven games last year, so if we win eight that’s an improvement.”

Damen Francis

ECHUCA’S SEASON FIXTURE Rhys Archard

ROUND 1

ROCHESTER (A)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

TATURA (H)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

KYABRAM (A)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

UNITED (H)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

MOOROOPNA (A)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

SEYMOUR (H)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

BENALLA (H)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

MANSFIELD (A)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

SHEPPARTON (A)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

SWANS (H)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

EUROA (H)

JULY 6

capacity will probably rise,

ROUND 12

BENALLA (A)

JULY 13

because we’ve got some talls.”

ROUND 13

SEYMOUR (A)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

MOOROOPNA (H)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

UNITED (A)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

KYABRAM (H)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

TATURA (A)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

ROCHESTER (H)

AUGUST 31

“I like to think our scoring

– Coach Cameron Stewart

Matt Hay At just 16 years of age, Hay was a great story for Echuca last year.

The dogged key defender went toe-to-toe with several stronger and wiser opponents such as Paul Newman of Kyabram and Rochester’s Guy Campbell and did not take a backward step.

However, it will not get any easier this season, with the likes of Grant Weeks, Jason Eagle and Daniel Lewis joining the fray and no significant additions to his defensive unit.

Whether or not he gets that sort of match-up every week remains to be seen, but Hay’s progression will be fascinating to watch regardless.

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: NINTH HANNAH DRISCOLL: EIGHTH PATRICK O’MEARA: SIXTH DAMEN FRANCIS: EIGHTH IN: Simon Buckley (Collingwood), Tom Stevens (Sandringham), Jordan Florance (Aberfeldie), Josh Edgar, Brad Jones (both Leitchville Gunbower), Ben Mason (Moama), Isaac Young, Robert Young (Avondale Heights), Jordan Williams (Bendigo Gold), Sean Christopher (Horsham) OUT: Matt Farrelly (Bendigo Gold), Christian Burgess (Williamstown), Jamus Campbell, Dale Walker (both University Blues), Axel Childs (Kyabram), Matthew Costello (Grovedale), Josh Preston (Skipton), Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)

Football and Netball 2013 Page 11

FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1971 NICKNAME: MAGPIES GROUND: MEMORIAL OVAL, SPENCER ST, EUROA COACH: DAVID GLEESON PRESIDENT: SCOTT WATSON PREMIERSHIPS: 1971, 1990 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: A.BAKER (1998) 2012 FINISH: 11TH (2-16) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: JACOB GLEESON 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: CRAIG BAMFORD (37)

Y

outh development will again be David Gleeson’s focus this

year.

Gleeson said being one of the smallest clubs in the league, combined with its record for the past few seasons, made it difficult to compete with other clubs to attract players, so developing a core base was crucial.

That’s not to say there will not be some talented recruits joining the Magpies.

The club can take a major boost from the full-time inclusion of Brendan Allen, the former Murray Bushrangers’ captain back after one year with Sandringham.

Allen played four games for the

Magpies last year and was in the best all four occasions. “Brendan is the sort of guy we can build a side around,� Gleeson said. “He is a class player in our side and if we can get more matches out of him the football club will benefit from his ability and his experience.�

Matt Quinton presents as an attacking centre half-back capable of playing ruck and going forward and Gareth Fricker is another attacking half-back.

Ambrose Swinton can go forward or play on the ball while Nick Snowdon, Ben Hayes and Rob Wilson will swoop on the wings.

It is clear some of the Magpies’ close losses last year still haunt

Gleeson (two games were lost by less than a kick).

Euroa is reliant on the small senior brigade of players like Craig Bamford, the Magpies’ leading goal-kicker three seasons running, to lead the way and Gleeson also wanted to see more leadership from players like Klay Giovannini, Brad Cunningham and James and Matt Ivill this season.

The success of Euroa Cricket Club, which had three teams in semifinals last week, has interfered with the Magpies’ pre-season and numbers on the track have been inconsistent as a consequence.

But the numbers will be there and Gleeson said it would be a good

season if it could get one side into finals. “At this time of year we’ve got to be planning to win more games than last year and it depends on other sides, but we would hope to improve as a football club on last year,� Gleeson said.

The under-18 side achieved a finals finish last season in its first year back in the competition with a win-loss record of 13-5.

Gleeson will utilise at least six players out of that group and said there were others capable of spending time in the seniors.

Included in the mix will be the thirds’ best-and-fairest winner Will Graf, who presents an option

up forward or in the ruck along with Jake McNamara, while Kasey Duncan has been added to the midfield rotation.

Gleeson has the group striving for consistency, a hurdle itself for a young team. “It might take us a few games to get going, but we thought we were far more competitive in the back end of last year with our results,� he said. “We know we’ve got a very young side this year, so we know sometimes with young guys inconsistency comes, so it’s just about preparing them and giving the best instructions we can.� „ Hannah Driscoll

Euroa Magpies

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Brendan Allen swoops on the ball

s

“It might take us a few game

to get going, but we thought we

Matt Ivill, Robbie Wood, Brad Gleeson

were far more competitive in the

back end of last year with our results.”

– Coach David Gleeson

EUROA’S SEASON FIXTURE ROUND 1

BENALLA (H)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

MANSFIELD (A)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

SEYMOUR (A)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

MOOROOPNA (H)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

KYABRAM (A)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

ROCHESTER (H)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

UNITED (A)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

SHEPPARTON (H)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

SWANS (H)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

TATURA (A)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

ECHUCA (A)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

UNITED (H)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

ROCHESTER (A)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

KYABRAM (H)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

MOOROOPNA (A)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

SEYMOUR (H)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

MANSFIELD (H)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

BENALLA (A)

AUGUST 31

SEASON PREDICTIONS:

Brendan Allen

MARC MCGOWAN: 12TH HANNAH DRISCOLL: 11TH PATRICK O’MEARA: 11TH DAMEN FRANCIS: 11TH

It has been a while since Brendan Allen has been seen fulltime around Euroa Football Club.

The 21-year-old is a proven leader as Murray Bushrangers and Assumption College first XVIII captain in 2010, and spent a year on Sandringham’s list last season.

He squeezed in 19 senior GVFL games around that.

Gaining, and holding onto, young talent like Allen will be crucial for the Magpies’ long-term rebuilding plans.

IN: Gareth Fricker (Seaford), Ben Hayes (Old Melburnians), Matthew Quinton, Nick Snowdon (Whittlesea), Ambrose Swindon (Montmorency), Rob Wilson (Violet Town) OUT: Alex Birch, Tim Faliszewski, Brayden Wren (all Harcourt), Edward Carracher, Davenall Mackrell, Jac Smith-Williams (Longwood), Cameron Thyer (Peninsula FL)

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FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1894 NICKNAME: BOMBERS GROUND: KYABRAM RECREATION RESERVE, UNWIN ST, KYABRAM COACH: DAVE WILLIAMS PRESIDENT: JOHN BACON PREMIERSHIPS: 1919, 1921, 1922, 1927, 1928, 1948, 1950, 1958, 1975, 1996 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: W. COX (1934), J. COOPER (1958, 1961), C. STEWART (1963), R. CLAY (1964), P. GITTOS (1987), B. GUGLIOTTI (1993), L. WITHERS (2008 JOINT) 2012 FINISH: SEVENTH (7-10-1) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: JASON MORGAN 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: PAUL NEWMAN (68)

T

Simon Seddon

he contrast could hardly be starker from this year to last for Kyabram.

The Bombers rustled up just three names from the past – two of them back from long-term knee injuries – and that was about it as far as recruiting went going into last season.

That all changed this offseason.

Kyabram surged into finals - and even premiership calculations with a blockbuster summer of recruiting.

Many of those are top-notch former Bombers returning to the fold – think Chris Atkins, Josh Linton, Ryan Emmett, Simon Seddon and Jake Reeves – but there is plenty of new talent, too.

Ex-AFL player Sam Sheldon heads the list and his sweet-kicking cousin Tom Sheldon, a Nathalia premiership player and former Echuca and Goulburn Valley interleague defender, has come across with him.

Sam Sheldon, who played 43 games in six seasons with Brisbane Lions, will have a delayed start.

He broke an ankle this month playing for Tiwi Bombers and could be out for three months, despite his early hopes of being back inside eight weeks.

Another former AFL player, Djaran Whyman, will also play for Kyabram once a resolution is reached with ex-club Mooroopna.

Bombers coach David Williams, entering his 22nd year as a coach, said he was not surprised at his club’s change in offseason fortunes.

“I’ve been coaching for a long time and I mentioned to one guy in particular, with recruiting one year you can’t take a trick and the next year you’ve got them everywhere,” Williams said.

“We’d be disappointed if we didn’t make finals, but we’ve got a hard draw, so fourth or fifth would be a good result.

“We’d like to think we’d win one out of the first two games (against Tatura and Rochester), which is very important, but that’s about as far as we’ve looked as far as setting goals.”

Two other newcomers – Axel Childs and Bernie Wearden – could be equally important.

Childs, a hard-at-it on-baller, is a two-time Victoria Country under-19 representative and Wearden, a former Kyabram junior, is the brother of AFL player Patrick.

Williams said Wearden, who boasts an exquisite left boot, might sneak under the guard of some opposing clubs in either a forward or defensive role.

“All the Melbourne guys have been training the house down,” Williams said. “ ‘Afro’ (Atkins) has been overseas, so he’s going to be a bit behind, but Joshy Linton is super-fit, Simon Seddon is apparently flying on the training track and this Brett Davis is a real fitness freak. “(Davis is) a real hard nut, plays off halfback and runs really hard at the ball, and

Beau Runnalls can play a little bit, too, and has been training well, so there are a lot of plusses for us at the moment.”

Reeves could be the answer to the Bombers’ ruck search. The ex-Murray Bushranger played in Kyabram’s 2010 grand final side before spending the past two seasons with VFL club Werribee.

Brett Morgan returned from injury obscurity to star in the ruck early last year before his ongoing knee problems came back to haunt him.

Morgan could be a factor if his knee allows him, but Williams said, at least initially, his ruck combination would most likely be Reeves and fellow young big man Luke Morris.

The Bombers’ defence loses Rhys Clark to VFL club Bendigo Gold, where Kyabram’s interleague player Nathan Beck has also gone.

Back-to-back best-and-fairest Jason Morgan will lead the backline, legendary key forward Paul Newman will be the focal point and speedster Liam Ogden remains a midfield key.

Brad Ryan, Nick Coulstock, Bushrangers Nick and Tom Holman and reigning under-18 Pattison medallist Hayden Gemmill are the pick of the kids.

Williams said a player vote would decide new Tongala playing coach David Newman’s captaincy replacement.

Marc McGowan

Brad Ryan Ryan first flashed his potential at senior level two years ago and was one of Kyabram’s better players in the finals that season despite his tender age. His Murray Bushrangers commitments are over, so this will be his first full season

with the Bombers’ top side. The hugely talented Ryan’s height and athleticism mean he can be effective almost anywhere on the field, but expect to see him most often through the midfield and up forward.

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Tom and Sam Sheldon

KYABRAM’S SEASON FIXTURE ROUND 1

TATURA (A)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

ROCHESTER (A)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

ECHUCA (H)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

MANSFIELD (A)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

EUROA (H)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

SHEPPARTON (A)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

SWANS (H)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

MOOROOPNA (H)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

BENALLA (A)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

SEYMOUR (A)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

UNITED (H)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

SWANS (A)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

SHEPPARTON (H)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

EUROA (A)

JULY 27

SEASON PREDICTIONS:

ROUND 15

MANSFIELD (H)

AUGUST 3

MARC MCGOWAN: FIFTH HANNAH DRISCOLL: FIFTH PATRICK O’MEARA: THIRD DAMEN FRANCIS: FOURTH

ROUND 16

ECHUCA (A)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

ROCHESTER (H)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

TATURA (H)

AUGUST 31

“I’ve been coaching for a long time... take with recruiting one year you can’t a trick and the next you’ve got the m everywhere.”

– Coach David Williams

< Josh Linton

IN: Chris Atkins, Scott McCormack and Tom Sheldon (Nathalia), Sam Sheldon (Brisbane), Simon Seddon and Brett Davis (Southport), Josh Linton (Lara), Beau Runnalls (Palm Beach Currumbin), Axel Childs (Echuca), Sam Nelson (Rushworth), Djaran Whyman (Mooroopna), Ryan Emmett (East Brighton), Bernie Wearden (Broome Bulls), Jordan Briggs (Robe), Jake Reeves (Werribee) OUT: Nathan Beck and Rhys Clark (Bendigo Gold), David Newman and James Lovison (Tongala), Lukas Hanslow (Stanhope)

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Football and Netball 2013 Page 15

FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1998 NICKNAME: EAGLES GROUND: MANSFIELD RECREATION RESERVE, HIGHETT ST, MANSFIELD COACH: FRASER STEVENSON PRESIDENT: QUINTEN THOMSON PREMIERSHIPS: 2004, 2009 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: T. HOTTON (2007) 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (11-7) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: NICK GRAY 2011 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: ROD WOODFORD (70)

I

Ari Croxford-Demasi

“It’s hard to know (where we are at) until we get going, but, on paper, we have improved.”

– Coach Fraser Stevenson

t is more than three years since Mansfield’s (Craig) Kelly Gang achieved Goulburn Valley Football League premiership glory.

The Eagles have enjoyed mixed success since, playing finals twice – including last year – and bowing out in the first week on both occasions.

Second-year coach Fraser Stevenson, a member of Mansfield’s all-conquering 2009 team, plans to change that this season and is armed with three more former AFL-listed players as he does so.

Ex-Collingwood and Gold Coast ruckman Josh Fraser’s celebrated return to his junior club caused the biggest splash, but Cain Ackland and Michael Handby will help fill holes in the Eagles’ line-up.

“It’s just the experience of these guys,” Stevenson said.

“All three of them have had AFL experience.

What’s coming in is a fair bit better than what’s gone out in terms of experience.”

Ackland, a 74 AFL-gamer for Port Adelaide, Carlton and St Kilda, will replace spearhead Rod Woodford, while Handby will aim to fill gun youngster Nick Gray’s sizeable midfield shoes.

Gray is off to play for Collingwood’s VFL team after a breakout campaign that included interleague selection.

He is the second straight Mansfield best-andfairest winner, behind fellow on-baller Brett Mahoney, to join a state-league club.

Handby spent two years on Adelaide’s list and more than a decade plying his trade at SANFL level for Glenelg, North Adelaide and South Adelaide.

The ex-Dandenong Stingray was a fringe senior player in recent seasons, but should have plenty to offer in Victorian country football’s No. 1-ranked league.

It will be a new-look Eagles list. The turnover is significant, with stars Woodford, Gray, Dan Roy, Luke Smith and Tim van der Klooster gone.

But Stevenson said Mansfield’s depth had increased despite those high-profile exits.

“It’s hard to know (where we are at) until we get going, but, on paper, we have improved,” he said.

“You’re silly if you’re not thinking finals. We definitely want to improve on last year, which was

fifth position ... and we’re happy with our 23 or 25 (in the senior rotation) this year.”

The Eagles have gone back to the future with Darren Wheeler, a forward-midfielder, and 2009 premiership players Chris Gallagher and Matt Stevenson returning.

Gallagher will switch between defence and the middle, while Stevenson will go some way to replenishing Mansfield’s key-position stocks.

Impressive young tall Liam Scale and ex-AFL defender Shane Wakelin are no longer part of those stocks.

One player set to make his mark is Ari CroxfordDemasi, who won the Eagles’ under-18 best-andfairest award last season.

Croxford-Demasi will get first shot at replacing the agile van der Klooster in defence and will join veteran Guy Taylor, captain Adam Boshevski, Daniel Moloney and Lee Renton down there.

Taylor has the unenviable task of manning rivals’ No. 1 key forward.

The ruck will be an even greater strength than last year.

Mark Jones turned back the clock to be one of the competition’s top big men and will have support from Fraser, Ackland and Matt Stevenson.

Fraser will split his time between the ruck and forward line. He showed at AFL level he was capable of kicking bags of goals.

Mansfield’s improved ruck prowess should ease any midfield shortcomings.

Stevenson maintains the Eagles will be competitive with their on-ball brigade, but there are question marks.

Steve Cox shook persistent injuries to have a great 2012, but is another year older and will commute from Adelaide for much of the year.

And Mitch Wareham is yet to live up to his massive potential due to ongoing groin problems.

Two men they should be able to rely upon are Ben Fagan and James Herridge, others who enjoyed standout campaigns last year.

Finals are a realistic goal, but it remains to be seen whether this Mansfield, despite being different in look, can produce different, improved results.

Marc McGowan

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Chris Gallagher

MANSFIELDSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SEASON FIXTURE ROUND 1

SEYMOUR (A)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

EUROA (H)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

BENALLA (A)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

KYABRAM (H)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

UNITED (A)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

MOOROOPNA (H)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

ROCHESTER (A)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

ECHUCA (H)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

TATURA (A)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

SHEPPARTON (H)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

SWANS (A)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

ROCHESTER (H)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

MOOROOPNA (A)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

UNITED (H)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

KYABRAM (A)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

BENALLA (H)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

EUROA (A)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

SEYMOUR (H)

AUGUST 31

Mitch Wareham

IN: Josh Fraser (Gold Coast), Joe Miscari (Old Carey), Cain Ackland and Michael Handby (North Adelaide), Chris Gallagher (Altona), Matt Stevenson (overseas), Darren Wheeler (Bonnie Doon) OUT: Rod Woodford (overseas), Nick Gray (Collingwood VFL), Shane Wakelin (retired), Tyler Chisholm (Bonnie Doon), Elliot Christopher (Keilor Park), Dan Roy (South Barwon), Liam Scale (University Blues), Luke Smith (Wantirna South), Tim van der Klooster (Winchelsea)

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: SIXTH HANNAH DRISCOLL: SEVENTH PATRICK Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;MEARA: SEVENTH DAMEN FRANCIS: SEVENTH

Wareham has long been a top on-ball prospect and played in Mansfieldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 2009 premiership as an 18-yearold. The main problem is he has played a combined 11 senior matches the past two seasons. It didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t take him long to make his presence felt when he enjoyed a

brief injury-free run last year. Wareham had one three-match stretch when he featured in the Eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; best players each time.

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FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1894 NICKNAME: CATS GROUND: MOOROOPNA RECREATION RESERVE, MIDLAND HIGHWAY, MOOROOPNA COACH: BLAKE CAMPBELL PRESIDENT: DARREN HALL PREMIERSHIPS: 1894, 1895, 1896, 1907, 1923, 1924, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1985, 1986 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: L. DWYER (1936), B. MCCARTY (1962), R. WILLETT (1965, 1967, 1968), D. BUX (1972, 1973), G. SAUNDERS (1977), B. OUGH (1979), G. COOPER (1983, 1985) M BLAKE (2012) 2012 FINISH: SIXTH (14-4) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: MARK BLAKE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JAMES MARKS (73)

H

Shayne Lynch

ow quickly things change.

Three months ago rookie Mooroopna coach Blake Campbell had lost the core of his midfield and the Cats looked at risk of sliding down the pecking order, with those around them more active in the market.

That all changed with the arrival of five bumper recruits just weeks from the start of the season.

Not only have Iggy Vallejo, Jake Dignan and Karl Lohde joined Mitch Keddell in reinforcing the midfield, a key defender not long out of the AFL in Jason Roe and a dynamite centre half-forward have entered the mix as well.

Daniel Lewis looms as one of the most exciting prospects ahead of the new season, with his immense athletic ability.

His arrival and the return of Rob Osborne from Cobram, have helped transform a problem area into a potent weapon.

James Marks was the Cats’ leading goal-kicker last year and while 73 goals was an outstanding return from a small forward, recruiting a big target was a must.

Ex-AFL player Campbell, who takes over the role from his brother Brad, said he was delighted with how the forward line had come together.

“Recruiting is very hard these days, you can’t afford to be too picky, but we were definitely after some midfielders and a key forward,” Campbell said.

“With (Mark) Blake in the ruck we think we can win a lot of clearances and now with big ‘Ozzie’ and Daniel Lewis there we’ve got a couple of really good targets to kick the ball in long and it just gives us more scoring power.

“Marksy can essentially get the second or third defender, whereas last year he was getting the main defender every week.

“The biggest key for me is to get them to work together, if we can get it in there enough times, it’s just a matter of giving each other enough space and making sure they’re not jumping over each other.”

The Cats were widely regarded as one of the best inand-under teams in the competition last year.

With Wayne Patak, Michael Roberts and Jordan Souter among those making way, Campbell is hoping to strike a better balance between inside and outside strength this season.

As well as the newcomers, the likes of Dan Collyer, Shayne Lynch and the upcoming on-ballers Bayden

James Marks Fallon and Dylan Cornick are expected to spend time in the middle, with the speed of the latter to be a real asset.

Morrison medallist Mark Blake will also go around again and continue to give the Cats first use of the ball as the competition’s dominant tap ruckman.

While some players will be flying in each week, Campbell said he was confident it would not harm the team dynamic.

“It only works if the guys you are getting in are good people as well,” he said.

“All these guys are best mates with each other and if we had a slight concern that these guys weren’t quality people off the field there’s no way we would have done it.”

The balance looks good at Mooroopna this season and with a core as good as any in the competition, the Cats will almost certainly have a major say on the premiership race.

Damen Francis

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MOOROOPNA’S SEASON FIXTURE

Rob Osborne

Dylan Cornick

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: FOURTH HANNAH DRISCOLL: FOURTH PATRICK O’MEARA: FOURTH DAMEN FRANCIS: THIRD

Got his chance last year and took it.

New coach Blake Campbell wants to strike a better balance between inside and outside on-ballers and that can only suit Cornick, who is a beautiful kick and has pace to burn.

His size is an asset and he can win his own ball, and with targets to kick at this year he could be a key player in Mooroopna’s bid to go deeper into finals.

“Recruiting is very hard these days, you can’t afford to be too picky.”

– Coach Blake Campbell

ROUND 1

SWANS (H)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

UNITED (A)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

SHEPPARTON (H)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

EUROA (A)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

ECHUCA (H)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

MANSFIELD (A)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

TATURA (H)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

KYABRAM (A)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

SEYMOUR (H)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

ROCHESTER (A)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

BENALLA (H)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

TATURA (A)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

MANSFIELD (H)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

ECHUCA (A)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

EUROA (H)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

SHEPPARTON (A)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

SWANS (A)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

UNITED (H)

AUGUST 31

IN: Dylan Baker (Murchison), Kane Boyer, Robert Osborne, Joe Sullivan (all Cobram), Nathan Drummond (Shepparton), Mitch Keddell (Peel Thunder), Brayden Napolitano (Shepparton East), Josh Poyner (Nullawil), Jake Ross (Glenorden), Zachary Treacy (Kilmore), Jason Roe, Iggy Vallejo, Jake Dignan, Karl Lohde (all Northern Territory Thunder), Daniel Lewis (Cairns City Lions), OUT: Boden Carkeek (Geelong West St Peter’s), Justin Dorward (Spotswood), Spiro Vourgaslis (Undera), James Martin (Mallee Eagles), Wayne Patak (Aberfeldie), Michael Roberts (Cairns), Jordan Souter (Tongala), Nathan Tweddle (South Barwon), Djaran Whyman (Kyabram), Ramadan Yze (Merrigum)

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Football and Netball 2013 Page 19

FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1913-1914; 1973 TO PRESENT NICKNAME: TIGERS HOME GROUND: MOON OVAL, ROCHESTER COACH: PETER WHITE PRESIDENT: MAX HANN PREMIERSHIPS: 1914, 1992, 1999, 2008 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: M. KEENAN (1998), P. MORGAN (1994), G. CAMPBELL (2011) 2012 FINISH: FOURTH (14-3) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: ASH WATSON 2012 LEADING GOALKICKER: ELLIOT BOWEN (76)

R

ochester coach Peter White has given himself plenty of choice this season.

The former GVFL interleague coach, entering his second year at the helm with the Tigers, believes versatility will be a major strength for his team this season.

The big news out of Tigerland this season was the recruitment of power forward Grant Weeks, who has kicked 451 goals in the past three seasons in Bendigo Football League, including a record 164 goals last season.

Weeks’ premiership teammates Brayden Dorrington and Callum Sharp have also joined Rochester and Sharp will line up with Weeks and Luke Gestier in the forward line.

But it’s not only the forward line where the recruits will make an impact.

Sam Vale is back full-time with the Tigers this season, while back-to-back South Bendigo best-and-fairest Daniel Anderson and former-Benalla Saint and 2012 Eaglehawk best-and-fairest winner Brady Green join him in the midfield.

Add to that mix players like Morrison Medal runnerup Ash Watson, Dean Moon and James Brain and this has the potential to be one of the best midfields in the competition.

The focus will also be on players in their second and third year of senior football, including Nick O’Connor, James Gledhill, Nathan Marrone, Dillon and Sean Williams, Ben McPhee and Nathan McCarty.

Part of the finals collapse, which saw Rochester bomb out after finishing second, White put down to the youth threaded through the line-up, but it was this group they would look to for improvement.

The recruitment of spearhead Grant “We had 10 players playing in Weeks frees up Rochester captain for our finals who were 21 and under roles elsewhere on the field. last year, so we’re relatively young in that area,” White said.

Bowen has been the Tigers’ leading “That group of players, with the goal-kicker three of the past four experience they’ve had last year, seasons and runner-up in the league hopefully, there’s an improvement last year. in that area.

Coach Peter White has signalled “We’ve lost seven or so (players) Bowen will “swing a little bit” between and gained similar which still the backline and up forward depending gives these guys spots to have an on what is required. opportunity, which creates the

Elliot Bowen

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Page 20 Football and Netball 2013

Some of the young players have added some bulk to their frames in the off-season, but it was some of the senior brigade impressing the most with their hard work in the off-season.

Watson, who is vice-captain with Moon and Nick Knight this season as well as assistant coach, had co-ordinated most of the pre-season and White liked what he saw.

Knight and captain Elliot Bowen had been “outstanding” and Brain and returning player Dylan Cuttriss were other players noted for what they’d done over summer.

White said there had been pleasing signs out of two intra-club practice matches and Rochester had two matches against Greensborough and Sandhurst scheduled before the opening clash against Echuca.

That was all White was worried about at that moment: beating the old rival to kick the season off to a winning start.

“The whole competition is improving, on any given day you’re going to have to play well,” he said.

“We’re not getting too far ahead of ourselves, but if we can be competitive and work to our strengths we think we can play finals.”

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ROCHESTER’S SEASON FIXTURE “The whole competition is improving, on any given day you’re going to have to play well.”

ROUND 1

ECHUCA (H)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

KYABRAM (H)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

TATURA (A)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

SHEPPARTON (A)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

SWANS (H)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

EUROA (A)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

MANSFIELD (H)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

BENALLA (A)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

UNITED (H)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

MOOROOPNA (H)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

SEYMOUR (A)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

MANSFIELD (A)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

EUROA (H)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

SWANS (A)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

SHEPPARTON (H)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

TATURA (H)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

KYABRAM (A)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

ECHUCA (A)

AUGUST 31

– Coach Peter White

Ash Watson

IN: Daniel Anderson (South Bendigo), Tim Bubb, Dylan Cuttriss (all Colbinabbin), Brayden Dorrington, Callum Sharp, Grant Weeks (Golden Square), Luke Gestier (Deer Park), Brady Green (Eaglehawk), Leigh Millard (Murrabit), David Price (Yarrawonga), OUT: Guy Campbell, Daniel Cavallaro, Phil Hubbard, Clayton Zanella (Echuca United), Scott Oakley (Norwood), Perry Oliver (Lockington Bamawm United), Sam O’Brien (work commitments), Heath Aitken (retired)

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: THIRD HANNAH DRISCOLL: PREMIER PATRICK O’MEARA: PREMIER DAMEN FRANCIS: PREMIER

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FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1940; 1976 TO PRESENT NICKNAME: LIONS GROUND: KINGS PARK, TALLAROOK ST, SEYMOUR COACH: SHANE ROBERTSON PRESIDENT: GERARD O’SULLIVAN PREMIERSHIPS: 1976, 1981, 1982, 1991, 2005, 2006, 2007 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: C. FROELICH (1940), G. LIDDELL (1978), J. SOLOMAN (1989), S. SCHOTTNER (2004) 2012 FINISH: RUNNER-UP (9-9) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: SAAD SAAD 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: SAAD SAAD (117)

N

Brent Colbert

ew Seymour coach Shane Robertson has given his new playing group an honest appraisal of their stunning charge to last year’s Goulburn Valley Football League grand final.

The Lions came from sixth, after recording a 9-9 win-loss record, to square off with Tatura in last year’s decider.

Their giant-killing run ended the premiership hopes of Mooroopna, Rochester and Shepparton United.

Robertson said he was quick to point out that he would want to be in a better position heading into a finals campaign this season.

“As I have said to the playing group, during the season, we are not going to have three Coburg players back with us boosting our side,” Robertson said.

“We really want to improve on the efforts of last year.

“At the end of the day, they were 9-9, and had to battle just to make the six in the last few weeks.

“We have already set ourselves a short-term goal, to get off to a good start, and then at the end of the year be in a more comfortable position come finals time.”

Robertson, a 1987 Carlton premiership player, joined the Lions as a replacement for 2007 premiership coach Bernie Haberman on the eve of last year’s grand final.

He had coached Hepburn, a team he led to four premierships in the Central Highlands Football League.

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Page 22 Football and Netball 2013

preliminary final last year.

The Daylesford-based mentor said it was difficult at first taking over from Haberman, who was coach since 2007 and joined the Lions as a playing assistant in 2004 alongside new coach and close friend Steve Daniel.

joined Coburg, along with finals revelation Ben Clifton.

Clifton, the Tigers’ vice-captain, played the last two games of the home-andaway season and qualified for finals where he was the Lions’ best player.

Returning to the club will be Jason Cole (Coburg) and Dom Russo (Avenel).

Cole will have a delayed start to “I must admit it has been the season as he overcomes hip surgery. tough as a new coach coming Robertson said he was pleased with the Lions’ recruiting. in with new ideas and looking “When I came into the job my main interest was to get some to change a few things.” stability around the place,” he said.

“We wanted to keep the main core of our players, which we have – Coach Shane Robertson managed to do.

“We haven’t gone out and tried It was Daniel, the man who steered to recruit too heavily at all, because we the Bulldogs to last year’s flag over the have a lot of confidence in the group Lions, who recommended Robertson to we have and the young kids that are the Lions. coming up.”

“I must admit it has been tough as a Robertson said Brent Colbert had new coach coming in with new ideas stepped up his leadership this offand looking to change a few things,” season and was likely to be the Lions’ Robertson said. captain for a second year.

“But we have worked pretty hard at

Patrick O’Meara it and it is all starting to come together now.”

The only major out for the Lions is Willie Wheeler.

The 20-year-old VFL star, who played in all of the Lions’ finals last year With Shane Schottner nearing the end of a after his best-and-fairestdecorated Goulburn Valley Football League career, winning season with it is on Brandyn Grenfell to step up and take the Coburg, has opted not to No. 1 rucking mantle. The 2010 Calder Cannons nominate Seymour as his premiership player has showed glimpses after home club this season. returning to the Lions last season, but needs to The Lions are also be a more consistent performer. With Schottner likely to be without expected to spend some time overseas during the Jake Loraine and Jake season, the importance of Grenfell will increase.

Anderson, who have

Brandyn Grenfell

SEYMOUR’S SEASON FIXTURE ROUND 1

MANSFIELD (H)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

BENALLA (A)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

EUROA (H)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

SHEPPARTON SWANS (A)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

TATURA (H)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

ECHUCA (A)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

SHEPPARTON (H)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

SHEPP UNITED (A)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

MOOROOPNA (A)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

KYABRAM (H)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

ROCHESTER (H)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

SHEPPARTON (A)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

ECHUCA (H)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

TATURA (A)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

SHEPPARTON SWANS (H)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

EUROA (A)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

BENALLA (H)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

MANSFIELD (A)

AUGUST 31

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: EIGHTH HANNAH DRISCOLL: NINTH PATRICK O’MEARA: FIFTH DAMEN FRANCIS: NINTH

IN: Jason Cole (Coburg), Dom Russo (Avenel) OUT: Willie Wheeler (Williamstown)

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FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1894 NICKNAME: BEARS GROUND: DEAKIN RESERVE COACH: TIM LITTLE PRESIDENT: PAUL HEGGART PREMIERSHIPS: 1899, 1903, 1906, 1908, 1909, 1911, 1912, 1913, 1920, 1925, 1929, 1934, 1952, 1957, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1993, 1994, 2000 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: E. JAMES (1935-37), J. DALGLEISH (1960), D. CODE (1980-81), G. REESE (1982 JOINT), S. ASH (200, 2003 JOINT), M. BYERS (2005) 2012 FINISH: NINTH (7-11) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: NICK ALLAN 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER WILL PATONE (31)

N

Tim Little

ew Shepparton coach Tim Little does not shy Little said Hay would add experience and provide leadership away from the fact not everything has gone to his young group. to plan since he took the reins after last season.

“He will be great for us,” he said. “We lack those older, more But the Tatura premiership experienced guys, so he will be ruckman is not dwelling on very valuable.”

“We are really focused on getting what hasn’t gone right.

The Bears will also have “Training and the pre-season former Melbourne aerialist the game plans right and bringing has been excellent,” Little said.

Russell Robertson who has “The boys have really taken committed to playing in the is at on board the things that we opening round. They are wh h wit ed spe everyone up to have tried to bring in and that hopeful he will play more, has been really pleasing. depending on his availability. needed in modern-day football” “Some of the other stuff Little said the Bears’ early hasn’t gone to plan, focus was on familiarising – Coach Tim Little themselves with a new game with a few boys unfortunately plan. “Our game plan has been choosing to leave, but we are really happy our key focus,” he said. “We have been working really hard on with the guys we have had there and what getting the game plan right. they have been able to achieve.”

“It is pretty important that the boys know what we want them Little, himself, will be a major inclusion to do when we have got the ball and what we need to be doing for the Bears, bolstering their tall stocks when we don’t have the footy. alongside developing big man Ash “We want to be playing structured footy.”

Holland and the versatile Mark Ryan.

Little said this season would not be about results.

The Bears will be further boosted by the “We are not going to set anything in terms of wins and losses,” signing of former All-Australian full-back he said.

Jonathan Hay. “We will have some internal goals and we will be striving to Hay, 33, played 149 games in nine years achieve those. with Hawthorn – earning All-Australian “We are really focused on getting the game plans right and selection in 2001 – and a further eight games bringing everyone up to speed with what is needed in modern with North Melbourne in 2006 before day football, which has probably been lacking in the last few retiring prior to the following season. years.

He had been in talks with the Bears last “From this year, that is the stuff that we really want to do well.” season, before spending the season with Little said Rowan Hiscock was setting the benchmarks on the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football training track, while skipper Rhys O’Sullivan was leading by League outfit Langwarrin. example, along with recruit Daryl Webb.

Little said former Congupna under-18 player Nik Rokahr had proved a surprise packet on the training track since he joined the Bears.

“He has looked really good in the practice matches,” he said.

Key forward Clayton Sessions will start the year under an

By O’Sullivan’s lofty standards, last season was probably a year to injury cloud after injuring his ankle. forget. The regular Goulburn Valley interleague representative failed Little said the Bears remained unsure of the extent of the to have the same impact he had in previous years for the Bears. damage.

It is vital for the Bears that O’Sullivan steps up again this season.

“We just have to wait and see,” he said.

“He is a big part of our plans, so we are certainly hoping it is His leadership and experience will be crucial in what looms as an not too serious.” extremely youthful Bears outfit.

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Page 24 Football and Netball 2013

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SHEPPARTON’S SEASON FIXTURE

Clayton Sessions

ROUND 1

SHEPPARTON UNITED (H)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

SHEPPARTON SWANS (A)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

MOOROOPNA (A)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

ROCHESTER (H)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

BENALLA (A)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

KYABRAM (H)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

SEYMOUR (A)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

EUROA (A)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

ECHUCA (H)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

MANSFIELD (A)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

TATURA (H)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

SEYMOUR (H)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

KYABRAM (A)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

BENALLA (H)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

ROCHESTER (A)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

MOOROOPNA (H)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

SHEPPARTON UNITED (A)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

SHEPPARTON SWANS (H)

AUGUST 31

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: 11TH HANNAH DRISCOLL: 12TH PATRICK O’MEARA: 12TH DAMEN FRANCIS: 12TH

Rowan Hiscock

IN: Tim Little (Tatura), Russell Robertson (St Joseph’s), Jonathan Hay (Langwarrin), Daryl Webb (Benalla All Blacks) OUT: Daniel McIntyre, Matt Campbell, Tom Thorsen, Ben Ryan (all Cobram), Levi Power (Rumbalara), Chris Turner (Swans), Jarman Impey (Swans

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Football and Netball 2013 Page 25

FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1946 (AS LEMNOS FOOTBALL CLUB) NICKNAME: SWANS GROUND: PRINCESS PARK COACH: BRETT WARBURTON PRESIDENT: KEVIN PREECE PREMIERSHIPS: 1959, 1960, 1970 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: B. TYQUIN (1949), R. ORRMAN (1951, 1954, 1959), N. SMITH (1975), M. LAMBOURN (1996) ALL AS LEMNOS, J. SUTHERLAND (2002), B. DURBRIDGE (2009) AS SHEPPARTON SWANS 2012 FINISH: 10TH (4-14) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: JESSIE FINNEN 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: BEN TAUTALA (33)

A

Ben Tautala

s strange as it may seem, the sight of skipper Jessie Finnen being beaten in pre-season running events should be a positive sign for Shepparton Swans.

Stay with me here.

Finnen remains an elite runner at GVFL level, but the performance of recruit Tyson Sidebottom shows two things; the former Shepparton United premiership captain’s commitment to the cause at his new club, and an extra incentive for the likes of Finnen to take his game to another level.

With Sidebottom and Geelong-based duo Dan Lovick and Andrew Riordan signing, it is a new-look top end at the Swans that can only benefit the club’s younger stars.

Finnen, Anthony Haysom, Dash Barolli and other stand-out players in the 30 to 40-game bracket are suddenly not receiving such close attention week in, week out.

Swans coach Brett Warburton said a little bit of quality and experience would help lengthen the list.

“There will be some guys starting in the reserves in round one that have been playing seniors the last couple of years, so our depth is not too bad,” Warburton said.

“There is some pressure and we want a bit of pressure.”

For many, Lovick is one of the most exciting players to join the league in recent seasons.

A two-time reigning Mathieson medallist as best-and-fairest of the Geelong league, Lovick will play mainly across half-back and has the ability to go toe-to-toe with the big forwards when required.

However, in an almost unprecedented off-season of recruits across the league, the Swans may have to temper their expectations and Warburton admitted

Anthony Haysom

they were perhaps still “one or two keyposition players” away from challenging for the top four.

The late retirement of recruit Rob Osborne hurts the Swans in that department and Warburton admitted the decision was a setback.

“We recruited Ozzy to play a role. I wasn’t looking at him to kick 70 or 80

goals for us, but height is an area we lack,” he said.

“It was March when he told us he was retiring and we had done our forward structures around his height and his ability to give us a contest.

“I fully respect his decision, he felt his body was going to let him down and he didn’t want to let us down, so what do you do?”

On the plus side, despite moving to Geelong, marking small forward Josh McDonald has decided against signing with Newtown and will car pool back and forth with Lovick.

Daniel Campbell is another potential target, having booted five goals for Queanbeyan against Sydney’s reserves team in the AFL Canberra grand final last year.

Livewire forwards Kaiden Antonowicz and Ben Tautala will also be available fulltime after last year’s stint with Murray Bushrangers.

The other disappointing loss is Alex Hamilton, who showed plenty of promise prior to a season-ending injury in round one last year.

For Warburton, the top four looks out of reach, but a top-six place is well and truly up for grabs, if his side is good enough to take it.

“The competition every week seems to be getting better and with the calibre of players that are running around this year it’s going to be bloody competitive,” he said.

“We need to play well, we need a bit of luck and we still believe as a club and as a playing group, we’re 12 months away from really saying ‘this is it’.

“In saying that, definitely we will improve as a team, but how far we improve will come down to the local boys that have been there for the last two years.”

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Page 26 Football and Netball 2013

Dan Lovick

“The competition every week

SWANS’ SEASON FIXTURE

seems to be getting better and

ROUND 1

MOOROOPNA (A)

APRIL 7

with the calibre of players that are

ROUND 2

SHEPPARTON (H)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

UNITED (A)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

SEYMOUR (H)

MAY 4

ROUND 5

ROCHESTER (A)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

BENALLA (H)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

KYABRAM (A)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

TATURA (H)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

EUROA (A)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

ECHUCA (A)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

MANSFIELD (H)

JUNE 29

ROUND 12

KYABRAM (A)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

BENALLA (A)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

ROCHESTER (H)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

SEYMOUR (A)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

UNITED (H)

AUGUST 10

ROUND 17

MOOROOPNA (H)

AUGUST 25

ROUND 18

SHEPPARTON (A)

AUGUST 31

running around this year it’s going to be bloody competitive.”

– Coach Brett Warburton

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: SEVENTH HANNAH DRISCOLL: SIXTH PATRICK O’MEARA: NINTH DAMEN FRANCIS: SIXTH

Dan Lovick Lovick comes to the club with a lot of hype and will hold down a key position for the Swans. The smooth-moving defender will be expected to do jobs on the competition’s big guns such as Jason Eagle, Grant Weeks and Daniel Lewis, while leading a young defence. Coach Brett Warburton has been glowing in his praise of Lovick as a player and a person and, while there has not yet been any suggestion he can’t, the Swans need him to deliver if they are to ensure the improvement of those around them does not hinder their own ambitions.

You choose. You win

IN: Dan Lovick (St Joseph’s), Tyson Sidebottom (Congupna), Hayden Best (Shepparton East), Daniel Campbell, Alex Overs, Sam Daniel (all Queanbeyan), Jarman Impey, Nick Calandro and Chris Turner (all Shepparton), Andrew Riordan (Grovedale), Nathan Terlich (Rumbalara).

OUT: Daniel Briffa (Broadford), Alex Hamilton (St Mary’s), Danny Haysom (Nagambie), Luke Poustie (Whitehorse Pioneers).

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Football and Netball 2013 Page 27

FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1950 NICKNAME: DEMONS GROUND: DEAKIN RESERVE, SKENE ST, SHEPPARTON COACH: MARC QUARRELL PRESIDENT: RAY DOBSON PREMIERSHIPS: 1954, 1955, 1956, 1962, 1967, 1974, 1980, 1987, 1988, 1989, 2010, 2011 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: J. WILLIAMS (1984), P. FOOTT (1992) 2012 FINISH: THIRD (14-4) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: MATT RENDINA 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: MATT FORYS (67)

A

Matt Rendina

n up-and-coming midfield crop may be just as vital as colossal spearhead Jason Eagle’s return to Shepparton United’s premiership chances.

The Demons’ bid for a three-peat of Goulburn Valley Football League flags ended at a rampaging Seymour’s hands in last year’s preliminary final.

It was the end of a campaign that always seemed just off the pace, despite United looking threatening at certain stages.

Eagle’s one-off, seven-goal appearance against arch-rival Mooroopna last season promised more and Demons officials announced he was back at Deakin Reserve a week after the grand final.

He kicked 99 majors in United’s 2010 premiership.

A ton beckons, but coach Marc Quarrell will be just as happy if he shares the load with fellow forwards Matt Forys – who delayed retirement another year with a 67-goal season – Justin Carey and Tom Scott.

“We do have one thing on our side (as the Demons adapt to life with Eagle again) and that is most players have played with Jason,” Quarrell said.

“But we certainly don’t want to be a one-pronged attack and that’s why we do have Matty Forys, Justin Carey, Tom Scott, rotating midfielders and Shannon Campbell and the likes.

“You may even see Jason a bit further out from goal at times this year.”

Eagle’s return and Carey’s arrival will also have spin-off effects: stars Tim Looby and Sam Dawes will go back to defence and the midfield, respectively.

United’s stingy defence was a hallmark of its dual flags and Quarrell

has set his sights on being No. 1 in that area again.

A backline including the likes of Looby, Matt Rendina, Ryan Butler, two-time Shepparton East premiership player David Gillespie, Dwain Vidler and Phil Carroll will be hard to pass.

Last year’s best-and-fairest winner Rendina will likely spend time in the middle, too.

Pierce Liddle, who carved his own niche in the Demons’ defence last year, is the club’s major loss, although oftinjured on-baller Mat Pianto’s departure will be felt, too.

Dawes and Shaun Huy will headline an on-ball brigade that will need to perform better than last season if United is to reclaim its former glory.

The other veterans in the midfield rotation are tagger Joey Perković, Mick Looby, Stephen Scott, strong-bodied pair Shaun Makar and Trent Freer and newcomers Ash Quinn and Dan O’Reilly.

And then there are the kids.

Matt Di Bella, the under-18 Pattison medallist two years ago, made major strides last year, ex-Murray Bushranger Samuel Poole is a good decision-maker and Sam Burls spent the pre-season training with Essendon’s VFL side.

“We’re happy with our midfield. We have some great young players coming through there,” Quarrell said.

“We don’t think we have to rely on just Shaun Huy to do the work.”

The ruck was a problem area last year. Clint Edwards and Bushrangers graduate Chris Down will try to change that this season.

Edwards has lost weight and is back to his 2010 peak fitness levels, but a recent setback with his troublesome back, which curbed him last year, means he will likely be a late starter.

That would leave teenager Down to shoulder the load, with a bunch of pinch-hitters, such as Dawes and Gillespie, as support.

Quarrell said he welcomed the league’s increased depth this season and felt his Demons were genuine contenders.

“We’re very happy with the list we’ve got, but we know there’s a very tough competition ahead of us this year, so the race for top spot is well and truly wide open,” he said.

“I don’t think we’re going to get a clear indication until after six rounds of where everyone sits.

“As with every side, it will come down to injuries and how we manage those and we’ll need a bit of luck along the way.”

Quarrell said he wanted United to regain its hunger and killer instinct as it took aim at the top again.

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Tractors, Excavators, Containers, Fork Lifts, Site Huts Page 28 Football and Netball 2013

LIFT ‘N’ SHIFT

UNITEDâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SEASON FIXTURE

Tim Looby, David Gillespie, reserves coach Chris Keady, Dan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly and Ash Quinn

ROUND 1

SHEPPARTON (A)

MARCH 29

ROUND 2

MOOROOPNA (H)

APRIL 13

ROUND 3

SWANS (H)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

ECHUCA (A)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

MANSFIELD (H)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

TATURA (A)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

EUROA (H)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

SEYMOUR (H)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

ROCHESTER (A)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

BENALLA (H)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

KYABRAM (A)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

EUROA (A)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

TATURA (H)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

MANSFIELD (A)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

ECHUCA (H)

AUGUST 3

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re very happy with the list weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ve

ROUND 16

SWANS (A)

AUGUST 10

got, but we know thereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a very tough

ROUND 17

SHEPPARTON (H)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

MOOROOPNA (A)

AUGUST 31

competition ahead of us this yea

r.â&#x20AC;?

â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Coach Marc Quarrell

SEASON PREDICTIONS: MARC MCGOWAN: PREMIER HANNAH DRISCOLL: RUNNER-UP PATRICK Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;MEARA: RUNNER-UP DAMEN FRANCIS: RUNNER-UP

Matt Di Bella Di Bella was a star junior on-baller, but started his senior career as a small forward. Those days are surely behind him.

The pint-sized, big-hearted Di Bella went head-to-head with VFL-listed midfielder Willie Wheeler in last yearâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s preliminary final and did a great job. It was the sort of performance coach Marc Quarrell will want more of as Di Bella enters his second full senior season. His progression â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or lack thereof â&#x20AC;&#x201C; could have a genuine say in how effective Unitedâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s midfield is.

Jason Eagle

IN: Jason Eagle (Broadbeach), Justin Carey (Albury), Dan Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Reilly, Cam Calder (Katandra), Ash Quinn (Nathalia), David Gillespie (Shepparton East), Stephen Scott (Waaia) OUT: Pierce Liddle (Darwin), Mat Pianto (Castlemaine), Dan Connors (Aberfeldie), John Woodcock and Matt Waight (basketball), Ty Parsons (Shepparton East)

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GOULBURN VALLEY FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND 1: March 29 Shepparton v Shepp United Euroa v Benalla March 30 Rochester v Echuca April 6 Seymour v Mansfield Tatura v Kyabram April 7 Mooroopna v Shepp Swans ROUND 2: April 13 Shepp Swans v Shepparton Benalla v Seymour Mansfield v Euroa Rochester v Kyabram Echuca v Tatura April 14 Shepp United v Mooroopna ROUND 3: April 20 Benalla v Mansfield Shepp United v Shepp

Swans Kyabram v Echuca Mooroopna v Shepparton Tatura v Rochester April 25 Seymour v Euroa ROUND 4: April 27 Shepparton v Rochester Tatura v Benalla Echuca v Shepp United May 4 Shepp Swans v Seymour Mansfield v Kyabram Euroa v Mooroopna ROUND 5: May 11 Benalla v Shepparton Shepp United v Mansfield Seymour v Tatura Kyabram v Euroa Rochester v Shepp Swans Mooroopna v Echuca

ROUND 6: May 18 Shepparton v Kyabram Echuca v Seymour Mansfield v Mooroopna Euroa v Rochester Shepp Swans v Benalla Tatura v Shepp United

ROUND 9: June 15 Mooroopna v Seymour Benalla v Kyabram Shepparton v Echuca Euroa v Shepp Swans Rochester v Shepp United Tatura v Mansfield

ROUND 7: June 1 Kyabram v Shepp Swans Shepp United v Euroa Seymour v Shepparton Rochester v Mansfield Mooroopna v Tatura Echuca v Benalla

ROUND 10: June 22 Shepp United v Benalla Seymour v Kyabram Mansfield v Shepparton Rochester v Mooroopna Tatura v Euroa Echuca v Shepp Swans

ROUND 8: June 8 Benalla v Rochester Shepp United v Seymour Mansfield v Echuca Euroa v Shepparton Shepp Swans v Tatura June 9 Kyabram v Mooroopna

ROUND 11: June 29 Shepp Swans v Mansfield Echuca v Euroa June 30 Kyabram v Shepp United July 6 Shepparton v Tatura Seymour v Rochester

Mooroopna v Benalla

Echuca v Mooroopna

ROUND 12: July 13 Tatura v Mooroopna Benalla v Echuca Shepparton v Seymour Mansfield v Rochester Euroa v Shepp United Shepp Swans v Kyabram

ROUND 15: August 3 Benalla v Tatura Shepp United v Echuca Seymour v Shepp Swans Kyabram v Mansfield Rochester v Shepparton Mooroopna v Euroa

ROUND 13: July 20 Benalla v Shepp Swans Shepp United v Tatura Seymour v Echuca Kyabram v Shepparton Rochester v Euroa Mooroopna v Mansfield

ROUND 16: August 10 Mansfield v Benalla Shepp Swans v Shepp United August 11 Echuca v Kyabram August 17 Shepparton v Mooroopna Euroa v Seymour (Night) Rochester v Tatura

ROUND 14: July 27 Euroa v Kyabram Shepparton v Benalla Mansfield v Shepp United Shepp Swans v Rochester Tatura v Seymour

Kyabram v Rochester Euroa v Mansfield Tatura v Echuca August 25 Shepp Swans v Mooroopna ROUND 18: August 31 Benalla v Euroa Shepparton v Shepp Swans Kyabram v Tatura Mansfield v Seymour Mooroopna v Shepp United Echuca v Rochester

ROUND 17: August 24 Shepp United v Shepparton Seymour v Benalla

FINALS: September 7 and 8 Elimination/qualifying finals September 14 and 15 Semi-finals September 22 Preliminary final September 29 Grand final

KYABRAM DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND 1: April 6 Ardmona v Stanhope Merrigum v Violet Town Nagambie v Girgarre Rushworth v Longwood Tallygaroopna v Lancaster Undera v Avenel BYE: Murchison

ROUND 4: April 27 Avenel v Murchison Girgarre v Rushworth Lancaster v Ardmona Merrigum v Nagambie Stanhope v Longwood Violet Town v Undera BYE: Tallygaroopna

ROUND 7: May 18 Ardmona v Tallygaroopna Longwood v Lancaster Murchison v Violet Town Rushworth v Merrigum Stanhope v Girgarre Undera v Nagambie BYE: Avenel

ROUND 10: June 15 Lancaster v Girgarre Violet Town v Avenel Longwood v Tallygaroopna Nagambie v Murchison Stanhope v Merrigum Undera v Rushworth BYE: Ardmona

ROUND 13: July 6 Ardmona v Longwood Merrigum v Lancaster Murchison v Rushworth Nagambie v Avenel Tallygaroopna v Girgarre Undera v Stanhope BYE: Violet Town

ROUND 16: July 27 Avenel v Rushworth Girgarre v Ardmona Lancaster v Undera Merrigum v Tallygaroopna Stanhope v Murchison Violet Town v Nagambie BYE: Longwood

ROUND 19: August 17 Ardmona v Merrigum Longwood v Girgarre Murchison v Lancaster Rushworth v Violet Town Stanhope v Avenel Undera v Tallygaroopna BYE: Nagambie

ROUND 2: April 13 Avenel v Ardmona Girgarre v Undera Lancaster v Nagambie Longwood v Murchison Stanhope v Rushworth BYE: Merrigum April 14 Violet Town v Tallygaroopna

ROUND 5: May 4 Ardmona v Violet Town Longwood v Avenel Murchison v Girgarre Nagambie v Tallygaroopna Rushworth v Lancaster Undera v Merrigum BYE: Stanhope

ROUND 8: June 1 Girgarre v Avenel Lancaster v Stanhope Merrigum v Murchison Nagambie v Ardmona Tallygaroopna v Rushworth Violet Town v Longwood BYE: Undera

ROUND 11: June 22 Avenel v Merrigum Girgarre v Violet Town Longwood v Nagambie Rushworth v Ardmona Murchison v Undera Tallygaroopna v Stanhope BYE: Lancaster

ROUND 14: July 13 Avenel v Undera Girgarre v Nagambie Lancaster v Tallygaroopna Longwood v Rushworth Stanhope v Ardmona BYE: Murchison July 14 Violet Town v Merrigum

ROUND 17: August 3 Longwood v Stanhope Murchison v Avenel Nagambie v Merrigum Rushworth v Girgarre Undera v Violet Town BYE: Ardmona, Lancaster, Tallygaroopna

ROUND 20: August 24 Girgarre v Stanhope Lancaster v Longwood Merrigum v Rushworth Nagambie v Undera Tallygaroopna v Ardmona Violet Town v Murchison BYE: Avenel

ROUND 9: June 8 Ardmona v Undera Avenel v Lancaster Longwood v Merrigum Murchison v Tallygaroopna Rushworth v Nagambie Stanhope v Violet Town BYE: Girgarre

ROUND 12: June 29 Ardmona v Murchison Avenel v Tallygaroopna Merrigum v Girgarre Stanhope v Nagambie Undera v Longwood Violet Town v Lancaster BYE: Rushworth

ROUND 15: July 20 Ardmona v Avenel Murchison v Longwood Nagambie v Lancaster Rushworth v Stanhope Tallygaroopna v Violet Town BYE: Undera, Girgarre, Merrigum

ROUND 18: August 10 Avenel v Longwood Girgarre v Murchison Lancaster v Rushworth Merrigum v Undera Tallygaroopna v Nagambie BYE: Stanhope August 11 Violet Town v Ardmona

FINALS: August 31 Elimination final 3 vs 6 September 1 Elimination final 4 vs 5 September 7 Semi, 1 vs 2 September 8 – Winners of elimination finals September 14 Preliminary September 21 Grand final

ROUND 3: April 20 Ardmona v Girgarre Murchison v Stanhope Nagambie v Violet Town Rushworth v Avenel Tallygaroopna v Merrigum Undera v Lancaster BYE: Longwood

ROUND 6: May 11 Avenel v Stanhope Girgarre v Longwood Lancaster v Murchison Merrigum v Ardmona Tallygaroopna v Undera BYE: Nagambie, Violet Town, Rushworth

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Page 30 Football and Netball 2013

MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE ROUND 1: March 30 Deni Rams v Finley Mulwala v Rumbalara Moama v Echuca United Nathalia v Tongala Cobram v Barooga Tocumwal v Congupna BYE: Numurkah

ROUND 4: April 20 Barooga v Mulwala Echuca United v Numurkah Congupna v Deni Rams Nathalia v Cobram Tongala v Moama Finley v Rumbalara BYE: Tocumwal

ROUND 7: May 11 Finley v Barooga Deni Rams v Tocumwal Mulwala v Nathalia Rumbalara v Congupna Moama v Cobram Numurkah v Tongala BYE: Echuca United

ROUND 10: June 8 Congupna v Barooga Moama v Mulwala Nathalia v Finley Cobram v Numurkah Tocumwal v Rumbalara Tongala v Echuca United BYE: Deni Rams

ROUND 13: June 29 Barooga v Tocumwal Echuca United v Cobram Finley v Moama Congupna v Nathalia Rumbalara v Deni Rams Numurkah v Mulwala BYE: Tongala

ROUND 16:

ROUND 19:

July 27

August 17

Echuca United v Mulwala

Finley v Echuca United

Finley v Numurkah

Deni Rams v Nathalia

Nathalia v Tocumwal

Mulwala v Tongala

Tongala v Cobram

Rumbalara v Barooga

BYE: Deni Rams, Barooga, Congupna, Rumbalara, Moama

Moama v Tocumwal

ROUND 2: April 6 Barooga v Moama Echuca United v Deni Rams Congupna v Cobram Rumbalara v Numurkah Tongala v Tocumwal Finley v Mulwala BYE: Nathalia

ROUND 5: April 27 Deni Rams v Tongala Mulwala v Congupna Rumbalara v Echuca United Moama v Nathalia Cobram v Tocumwal Numurkah v Barooga BYE: Finley

ROUND 8: May 18 Barooga v Echuca United Congupna v Finley Nathalia v Numurkah Cobram v Deni Rams Tocumwal v Mulwala Tongala v Rumbalara BYE: Moama

ROUND 11: June 15 Barooga v Tongala Echuca United v Nathalia Finley v Tocumwal Mulwala v Deni Rams Rumbalara v Cobram Numurkah v Moama BYE: Congupna

ROUND 14: July 13 Barooga v Cobram Echuca United v Moama Finley v Deni Rams Congupna v Tocumwal Rumbalara v Mulwala Tongala v Nathalia BYE: Numurkah

ROUND 17:

ROUND 20:

ROUND 3: April 13 Deni Rams v Barooga Mulwala v Echuca United Moama v Congupna Cobram v Tongala Numurkah v Finley Tocumwal v Nathalia BYE: Rumbalara

ROUND 6: May 4 Barooga v Rumbalara Echuca United v Finley Congupna v Numurkah Nathalia v Deni Rams Tocumwal v Moama BYE: Mulwala, Tongala, Cobram

ROUND 9: June 1 Echuca United v Congupna Finley v Tongala Deni Rams v Moama Mulwala v Cobram Rumbalara v Nathalia Numurkah v Tocumwal BYE: Barooga

ROUND 12: June 22 Deni Rams v Numurkah Moama v Rumbalara Nathalia v Barooga Cobram v Finley Tocumwal v Echuca United Tongala v Congupna BYE: Mulwala

ROUND 15: July 20 Deni Rams v Echuca United Mulwala v Finley Moama v Barooga Cobram v Congupna Numurkah v Rumbalara Tocumwal v Tongala BYE: Nathalia

ROUND 18:

August 3 Deni Rams v Congupna Mulwala v Barooga Rumbalara v Finley Moama v Tongala Cobram v Nathalia Numurkah v Echuca United BYE: Tocumwal August 10 Barooga v Numurkah Echuca United v Rumbalara Congupna v Mulwala Nathalia v Moama Tocumwal v Cobram Tongala v Deni Rams BYE: Finley

Numurkah v Congupna BYE: Cobram

August 24 Barooga v Finley Congupna v Rumbalara Nathalia v Mulwala Cobram v Moama Tocumwal v Deni Rams Tongala v Numurkah BYE: Echuca United FINALS: August 31 and September 1 Elimination/qualifying finals September 7 and 8 Semi-finals September 14 Preliminary final September 21 Grand final

PICOLA DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE – SOUTH-EAST ROUND 1: April 6 Rennie v Tungamah Dookie v Katandra Shepp East v Katunga Waaia v Katamatite

ROUND 4: April 27 Katamatite v Dookie Katandra v Tungamah Rennie v Katunga Shepp East v Waaia

ROUND 2: April 13 Katamatite v Rennie Tungamah v Dookie Katunga v Waaia Katandra v Shepp East

ROUND 5: May 4 Dookie v Rennie Tungamah v Shepp East Waaia v Katandra Katunga v Katamatite

ROUND 3: April 20 Dookie v Shepp East Katunga v Katandra Waaia v Rennie Tungamah v Katamatite

ROUND 6: May 11 Shepp East v Rennie Waaia v Tungamah Katandra v Katamatite Katunga v Dookie

ROUND 10: June 15 Shepp East v Dookie Katandra v Katunga Rennie v Waaia Katamatite v Tungamah

ROUND 13: July 6 Rennie v Shepp East Tungamah v Waaia Katamatite v Katandra Dookie v Katunga

ROUND 16: July 27 Katamatite v Rennie Tungamah v Dookie Katunga v Waaia Katandra v Shepp East

ROUND 8: June 1 Tungamah v Rennie Katandra v Dookie Katunga v Shepp East Katamatite v Waaia

ROUND 11: June 22 Dookie v Katamatite Tungamah v Katandra Katunga v Rennie Waaia v Shepp East

ROUND 14: July 13 Katandra v Rennie Katunga v Tungamah Waaia v Dookie Shepp East v Katamatite

ROUND 17: August 3 Dookie v Shepp East Katunga v Katandra Waaia v Rennie Tungamah v Katamatite

ROUND 9: June 8 Rennie v Katamtite Dookie v Tungamah Waaia v Katunga Shepp East v Katandra

ROUND 12: June 29 Rennie v Dookie Shepp East v Tungamah Katandra v Waaia Katamatite v Katunga

ROUND 15: July 20 Rennie v Tungamah Dookie v Katandra Shepp East v Katunga Waaia v Katamatite

ROUND 18: August 10 Katamatite v Dookie Katandra v Tungamah Rennie v Katunga Shepp East v Waaia

ROUND 7: May 18 Rennie v Katandra Tungamah v Katunga Dookie v Waaia Katamatite v Shepp East GENERAL BYE 25/05/2013

FINALS: August 17 and 18 Elimination/qualifying finals August 24 and 25 Semi-finals August 31 Preliminary final September 7 Grand final

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FAST FACTS >> JOINED LEAGUE: 1894 NICKNAME: BULLDOGS GROUND: TATURA SHOWGROUNDS COACH: SCOTT GRIGG PRESIDENT: DARYL EATON PREMIERSHIPS: 1898, 1900, 1901, 1902, 1904, 1905, 1952, 1953, 1995, 1998, 2003, 2012 MORRISON MEDALLISTS: W. PRITCHARD (1947), J. GREENWOOD (1969, 1970), N. SMITH (1974), T. ESLER (1995 JOINT) 2012 FINISH: PREMIER (16-2) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: SHANNON BROADBENT 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: CAM TREWIN (66)

T

atura could have been excused for going with more of the same after a dominant campaign last year that ended with a premiership.

There was always going to be at least one major change: coach Steve Daniel signalled his intention of stepping down early last season.

The Bulldogs sent the now threetime Goulburn Valley Football League premiership coach off in style, but this is now the Scott Grigg era.

Grigg said there were similarities between his coaching philosophies and Daniel’s, but that past success had nothing to do with this year.

“I wasn’t involved last year. The words back-to-back are not in my vocabulary,” Grigg said.

“For me, it’s about making this club a great club rather than a good club, and great clubs challenge for grand final berths on a regular basis.

“They sustain an ability to challenge for grand final berths and that will be the challenge for this group – making sure they’re a great club for a long time.”

Grigg was instantly taken by Tatura’s off-field set-up and said that played a bigger role in his decision to accept the job with the Bulldogs than last year’s flag.

Seven of Tatura’s premiership players have left, which should make it easier for Grigg to encourage players and officials to leave the past behind.

Best-and-fairest winner Shannon Broadbent, leading goal-kicker Cam Trewin, defender Ryan Crawford – the VCFL medallist in the grand final – and Trewin’s forward partner Steve Shaw are the biggest outs.

But Grigg and his recruiting team have done a great job of replacing them. Ex-Casey Scorpions James Wall, Rian McGough and Ben Waite promise

James Wall

Alec Young

to fill the void.

Wall, as capable on a wing as he is playing a key-position role, is a fourtime VFL Team of the Year recipient, McGough is a gun inside midfielder and Waite is a strong-bodied forward.

“There is a bit of turnover there, but even if you go back to the successful teams of the Brisbane Lions, they were turning over 25 to 30 per cent of their list each year,” Grigg said.

“That is as long as you’re replacing like for like, which we’ve been able to do . . . we’re in a similar position, if not better, than last season to challenge for a grand final.”

There is some doubt about McGough’s playing status.

He is yet to hear from AFL Victoria headquarters the result of his tribunal hearing from early last month that could significantly threaten his immediate playing future.

The News has chosen not to disclose the nature of the hearing.

The other recruits could also have a major impact.

Daniel Flynn looms as superstar ruckman Paul Kirby’s back-up, Nick Grigg will form the new one-two forward punch with Waite and half-

back flanker Brett Nankervis, and speedy on-baller Brendan Hollow will slot straight in.

James Fraser was Stanhope’s captain, while teammate Alec Young won the Lions’ best-and-fairest award despite playing just nine games.

The Bulldogs already boast two of the best young players in the competition in Tom Miller and Jayden Young and there will be pressure on them to replicate their breakout seasons.

Old stagers Kirby and Linc Wellington will continue their fight to defy age.

They are two of the league’s most enduring stars.

A new batch of youth is preparing to break into the best 21, too.

Mitch Elliot, Sean Martin and Matt Daniel – son of Steve – lead the way, but Liam Borrelli and Robert Kirby are also around the mark.

“We’ve got to keep the group hungry,” Grigg said.

“But, at the same time, we’ve got to give the guys the faith there is the opportunity if they do the right things.”

Back-to-back might not be in Grigg’s vocabulary, but league rivals know that scenario remains a realistic possibility.

Marc McGowan

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Page 32 Football and Netball 2013

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“For me, it’s about making

TATURA’S SEASON FIXTURE ROUND 1

KYABRAM (H)

APRIL 6

this club a great club rather

ROUND 2

ECHUCA (A)

APRIL 13

than a good club, and great

ROUND 3

ROCHESTER (H)

APRIL 20

ROUND 4

BENALLA (H)

APRIL 27

ROUND 5

SEYMOUR (A)

MAY 11

ROUND 6

UNITED (H)

MAY 18

ROUND 7

MOOROOPNA (A)

JUNE 1

ROUND 8

SWANS (A)

JUNE 8

ROUND 9

MANSFIELD (H)

JUNE 15

ROUND 10

EUROA (H)

JUNE 22

ROUND 11

SHEPPARTON (A)

JULY 6

ROUND 12

MOOROOPNA (H)

JULY 13

ROUND 13

UNITED (A)

JULY 20

ROUND 14

SEYMOUR (H)

JULY 27

ROUND 15

BENALLA (A)

AUGUST 3

ROUND 16

ROCHESTER (A)

AUGUST 17

ROUND 17

ECHUCA (H)

AUGUST 24

ROUND 18

KYABRAM (A)

AUGUST 31

clubs challenge for grand final berths on a regular basis.’’

– Coach Scott Grigg

SEASON PREDICTIONS:

Paul Kirby

Billy Hicks It is time for Hicks to become one of the league’s elite players.

That means reproducing what he did last year, while tidying up his at-times shaky disposal. Hicks kicked 24 goals last season and his ball-winning ability and speed make him a hugely valuable asset. Enjoyed a stellar summer with Northern Territory league club Southern Districts and is reportedly as fit as ever. Everything is pointing to a huge campaign.

MARC MCGOWAN: SECOND HANNAH DRISCOLL: THIRD PATRICK O’MEARA: EIGHTH DAMEN FRANCIS: FIFTH IN: James Wall (Williamstown), Rian McGough (Casey), Ben Waite (Frankston), Nick Grigg (East Keilor), Brett Nankervis (Greenvale), Daniel Flynn (Northcote Park), Brendan Hollow (Maribyrnong Park), James Fraser and Alec Young (Stanhope) OUT: Cam Trewin, Shannon Broadbent, Ryan Crawford (Deer Park), Andrew Browning (Belconnen Magpies), Tim Little (Shepparton), Justin Murphy (Numurkah), Jonathon Coe (Golden Square), Reece Pollard (Whitehorse Pioneers), Steve Shaw (West Preston-Lakeside)

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Football and Netball 2013 Page 33

I

t will be a vastly different Shepparton

District Junior Football League this year.

The transition from a school to club-based competition is in full swing.

Goulburn Valley Football League clubs Shepparton, Shepparton Swans and Shepparton United will all field teams in under-14s and under-16s.

Gone are Wanganui Park Secondary College, Shepparton High School and McGuire College.

Notre Dame will remain.

League president Chris Thomas said it was an exciting time for the competition.

“As everyone knows there are a few changes this year,” Thomas said.

“And they are pretty exciting changes, too, with the Shepparton-based GV clubs coming into it.”

The Bears, Swans and United will field teams in the under-16 division one competition, meaning four clubs will be drawn from Shepparton.

Thomas said that in itself was exciting.

“We haven’t had four teams in the under-16 division one from Shepp in quite a while,” he said.

“That is great news for the competition and means we have gone from having 21 teams in

Mooroopna White players mob each other after the under-14 grand final last season under-14 and under-16 to having 24 this year.

“And it is great that kids now have a pathway into club-based football.”

The additional teams have seen an increase of 50 players in the Shepparton area.

Thomas said that was what the league was about.

“For us, it is all about getting more kids playing football,” he said.

But Thomas was quick to add the competition remained in debt to the clubs which had come before.

“I have said all through this, we have enormous respect for everything that has

gone before us,” he said.

“Wanganui, Shepp High and McGuire will remain a big part of our history and it is a history that we want to continue to respect.

“They have made this competition what it is.”

Fixtures are still being finalised, but the first game of the season will be on April 14.

Teams outside of Shepparton will continue – with representation from Mooroopna, Tatura, Kyabram, Echuca and Rochester.

Thomas said the league’s primary school division was also looking positive.

He said the SDJFL, which also incorporates the new Youth Girls’ competition, was excited about a new interleague fixture against Bendigo Junior Football League.

After a successful trial last year, the clash will replace the former interleague expedition to the annual Swan Hill junior carnival.

The two leagues will square off – from under12s through to under-16s and Youth Girls – at Mooroopna Recreation Reserve on June 2.

“We are very excited about that,” he said.

“It will be a great chance for us to showcase junior footy.”

The SDJFL plays on Sundays.

Echuca celebrates winning last year’s under-16 division one flag

Wanganui’s champion under-16 division two team

McDonald’s Shepparton, Mooroopna and Echuca are proud supporters of Junior Football…

Page 34 Football and Netball 2013

Patrick O’Meara

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t least four teams will take part in the inaugural Youth Girls’ Football League run through Shepparton District Junior Football League this year.

As well as the existing Mooroopna and Notre Dame teams, AFL Victoria Goulburn Murray Region development manager Greg Liddell said teams had been confirmed in Kyabram and Echuca.

Mooroopna capped its second season in Bendigo Under-18 Youth Girls’ Football League with back-to-back premierships under coach Ivan Lister, defeating Huntly by 27 points in the grand final.

Sam Homewood coached Notre Dame in its debut season, but it was unable to win a match.

Liddell was hopeful of finding a fifth team in Shepparton for this season.

Shepparton United and Cobram football clubs initially expressed interest in fielding teams and Liddell wanted to arrange a meeting for prospective United players and their parents in the coming weeks.

In the case of Cobram, the parents who had put their hand up to coach had pulled out because their daughters’ circumstances had changed and they were no longer able to play.

Liddell was still working on a Cobram team, but admitted it was not looking as good as it was pre-Christmas.

He initially hoped to get a second team out of Mooroopna, but said some of the players had gone to Kyabram and Notre Dame.

Liddell hopes this would help bring some experience to the more fledgling teams.

“Rather than splitting Mooroopna, through natural attrition some of the girls are finding their way to some of the new clubs,” he said.

A start date had not been confirmed and Liddell said the date had been a “debating point”.

Some clubs wanted to begin simultaneously with the junior boys’ competition in April, but Liddell wanted to wait until May when Shepparton hosts the AFL Youth Girls’ National Championships on May 6 to 10.

Melbourne hosted the inaugural championships in 2010 and it then went to Gold Coast and Adelaide the past two years.

(L-R) Georgia Freer, Brittany Tancred, Jayde Burton and (front) Paige Baksh.

“This is the first time it will be held in a regional centre instead of a capital city,” Liddell said.

As part of the carnival, each of the state teams will run a clinic at the secondary schools in Shepparton and Liddell hopes to generate interest which may attract more players into the competition.

Six state teams from across the country will compete and for the first time Victoria, which has won three championships including last year’s, will be split to field a metropolitan and a country side.

Mooroopna’s Paige Baksh played in the Victorian side last year.

Baksh and Mooroopna teammates Allie Johns and Alex Mulcahy were also selected in the Calder Cannons Youth Girls’ Academy Squad last year, while Laura Case and Notre Dame’s Casey Homewood and Jayde Burton were selected in the Futures Squad.

The academy aims to provide footballers with more local opportunities to access high performance programs, while the Futures Squad aims to provide additional development opportunities for younger or less experienced players.

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The system was installed to more than 60 ha of his 77 ha farm.

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aybe – just maybe – the 12 Kyabram District Football League clubs that aren’t reigning premier Violet Town are playing for more than second spot this year.

The brilliant 2012 Towners completed an unbeaten season with an audacious 76-point smacking of Undera in the grand final.

They broke records everywhere.

Craig Whelan slotted 168 goals in total, including breaking Perry Meka’s league homeand-away season mark of 151, and no-one will forget his 34-goal haul against Ardmona in a hurry.

Then there was McNamara medallist Russell Lee, who seemingly had the ball on a string all year.

But both left for Leitchville-Gunbower on the KYABRAM DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAST 10 PREMIERS: 2012: VIOLET TOWN 2011: LANCASTER 2010: NAGAMBIE 2009: UNDERA 2008: STANHOPE 2007: STANHOPE 2006: ARDMONA 2005: TALLYGAROOPNA 2004: RUSHWORTH 2003: STANHOPE PAST MCNAMARA MEDALLISTS: 2012: RUSSELL LEE (VIOLET TOWN) 2011: STEVE THOMSON (LANCASTER) 2010: TROY SNELSON (GIRGARRE) 2009: PAUL BURNETT (LANCASTER) 2008: MARK YOUNG (ARDMONA) AND CHRIS EDDY (LANCASTER) 2007: MICK SHIELS (NAGAMBIE) 2006: ADAM MOLISAK (TALLYGAROOPNA) 2005: BRAD LOWE (ARDMONA) 2004: TYSON SIDEBOTTOM (TALLYGAROOPNA) 2003: DARYL HARRISON (STANHOPE)

Pat Horsburgh

same December day last year. Jake Williams, who was best afield in the grand final, joined them.

It was the flicker of hope league rivals needed – even if the Towners have since still done pretty well in the recruiting stakes.

Ex-Collingwood pair Chris Tarrant and Ben Kinnear will wear the blue, yellow and red on several occasions this year.

But that will unlikely be when fellow former Magpie Anthony Rocca plays his one game for Tallygaroopna on June 22.

Murchison seems the most likely to dethrone Violet Town.

The Grasshoppers twice rattled the Towners last year in narrow losses and have raided Heidelberg’s stocks to improve further.

Justin Williams’ defection to fellow contender Stanhope hurts, though.

New Lions coach Troy Auld is keeping his cards close to his chest in his return to the club. But opposition sides are wary, regardless of what he is saying publicly.

Stanhope seems set to return to the finals after a one-year absence.

Underrate Nagambie at your peril, too. Linc Sullivan, like Auld, will step up to coach his club after previously winning a premiership there as a player.

More old faces are back – none better than Danny Haysom and Patty Rattray.

Merrigum, which charged home in the second half of last season, is the bolter. Most expect the Bulldogs to be challenging for, if

not playing in, finals.

Christian Barnett earned rave reviews for his first year in charge and Merrigum looks much better than 12 months ago.

Lancaster and Undera, premiers in 2011 and 2009, respectively, loom as more mid-range than elite, but finals appearances would not surprise, either, with respected mentors Paul Burnett and Terry Mahoney back at their helms.

Avenel, Rushworth and Tallygaroopna have lost significant talent and will find it difficult to improve on their efforts from a year ago.

The bottom three slots are unlikely to change, with Girgarre, Longwood and Ardmona fighting them out.

Marc McGowan

LADDER PREDICTION 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13

Violet Town Murchison Nagambie Stanhope Merrigum Lancaster Undera Avenel Rushworth Tallygaroopna Girgarre Longwood Ardmona

Violet Town

FAST FACTS >> COACH: HAYDEN LAMARO 2012 FINISH: PREMIER (18-0) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: RUSSELL LEE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: CRAIG WHELAN (168) GROUND: VIOLET TOWN RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: LIONS

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t is hypothetically possible last year’s undefeated Violet Town premiership outfit would beat this season’s Towners, but the question will be whether another club can.

Coach Hayden Lamaro, one of a long list of outs that also includes McNamara medallist Russell Lee and league-leading goal-kicker Craig Whelan, remains confident his team will be a force.

“Time will tell. Obviously, you take out a 170-goal-kicker and league medallist and they’re not easy to replace,” Lamaro said.

“It’s fair to say the margins we were beating sides by will not be as predominant as they were, but I definitely still think we’re a topthree side.”

The recruits are impressive and that is not including ex-Collingwood duo Chris Tarrant and Ben Kinnear, who will play at least five games each and probably more.

Ruckman Josh Williams looms as a major inclusion, Rob Rutley slotted 91 goals for Undera last season and Kane Dockery arrives with a strong reputation as a hard-working forward.

The midfield, where Violet Town was strongest, will feel the losses more than anywhere else, but there is still a fearsome amount of talent in the middle.

Pat Horsburgh and Shane Mitchell are already stars, but will have even bigger on-ball roles, with Ben Ballinger and newcomer Daniel Kayrooz set to play there, too.

“We’re coming off an outstanding year and there is still that will within the playing group to succeed and show the footy world that last year wasn’t a fluke,” Lamaro said.

Marc McGowan IN: Chris Tarrant (Collingwood), Ben Kinnear (break), Josh Williams (Pascoe Vale), Kane Dockery, Mick Wright and Joel Hearn (Benalla All Blacks), Daniel Kayrooz (Marcellin), Craig and Rob Rutley (Undera), Josh Dunne (break), Paul Mintern (Doreen Flyers) OUT: Russell Lee, Craig Whelan and Jake Williams (Leitchville-Gunbower), Dale Saddington, Ben Tsakmakis, Brent Bailey (Whittlesea), Sean Horsburgh (Goorambat), Robbie Wilson (Euroa), Hayden Lamaro (retired)

Football and Netball 2013 Page 37

FAST FACTS >> COACH: GAVIN GLEDHILL 2012 FINISH: LAST (0-18) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: BRENT RALPH 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: GIACOMO TRAZZERA (5) GROUND: ARDMONA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: CATS

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ast year’s statistics made for ugly reading. Zero wins. 18 losses. A percentage lower than eight.

That record was not only Kyabram District Football League’s worst, but made a strong case the Cats – a senior premier in 2006 – were country Victoria’s poorest-performing side.

New coach Gavin Gledhill, who has been a success at multiple other clubs, is preparing to turn around Ardmona’s fortunes.

Gledhill said the Cats would no longer be the competition easybeats and if they were not playing finals by next year “then I’m not doing my job”.

The big ins are Andrew Ralph, who is back after stints at Lancaster and Mooroopna, and Cobram’s Shaun Wilson. They will add badly needed firepower up forward.

“Having the better players we have getting fit and wanting to play will mean our general on-field performance will improve,” Gledhill said.

“I don’t think we’ll be on the bottom of the ladder, but I don’t know how far we’ll go up.

“I’m sure we’ll be more than competitive for fair parts of games and I expect us to win our few. To me, that’s a good achievement from where they’ve been the last few years.”

Ardmona’s interleague star and reigning best-and-fairest-winning ruckman Brent Ralph

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Shaun Wilson

will again shoulder a heavy load and Gledhill had high hopes for tough youngster Ash Hurd.

Hurd, an on-baller last season, will be a leader across half-back this year.

Possibly most promising for the Cats is they will field an under-18 team.

Marc McGowan IN: Andrew Ralph (Lancaster), Shaun Wilson (Cobram), Jayedon Hexter (Shepparton East), Tom Hicks (Mooroopna) OUT: Jamie Balfour (EWFNC Ryco Bombers), David Kirk (Murray Magpies).

FAST FACTS >> COACH: MARK PATTEN 2012 FINISH: 11TH (3-14-1) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: TOM ROBERTS 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: ZAK ATKINS (36) GROUND: GIRGARRE RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: KANGAROOS

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ore competitive, but finals are still a long

shot.

That was coach Mark Patten’s summation of where his developing Girgarre side is at.

Last season the Kangaroos won one-and-a-half more games – the draw coming against reigning premier Lancaster – than the year before in three-time Stanhope premiership coach Patten’s debut at the helm.

But it was Girgarre’s new-found stubbornness and grit that caught rivals’ attention. Patten guessed the Kangaroos were in a winning position in as many as 12 games.

“We didn’t put enough of a gap between the opposition and ourselves (when we were ahead) and just couldn’t sustain it,” Patten said.

“I’m hoping what we put in place this year will stand them in good stead with some of the structural

Ryan Patten

work we’ve done, but we still have to execute.

“The guys are really behind that and have taken to it.

I’m seeing progress in that area every week and at least we’ll have a sound team plan in place.”

Bendigo-based Ryan

Page 38 Football and Netball 2013

FAST FACTS >> COACH: TIM MUIR 2012 FINISH: SEVENTH (9-8-1) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: ANDREW GREEN 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: DOM RUSSO (39) GROUND: ANDERSON ST, AVENEL NICKNAME: SWANS

Patten joins his father at Girgarre and will be a midfield key when he plays, while Dwayne Fitzpatrick will settle on a wing and Simon Tomasini will play forward instead of down back.

Tomasini will share the goal-kicking load with Zak Atkins and Jye Patten.

Patten also expects much from reigning best-and-fairest Tom Roberts, Paul Parsons, Dylan Smith, Joel Regan and Gary Davis, whose collarbone injury ruined his 2012 campaign.

He said Merrigum’s secondhalf rise last season would serve as inspiration for the Kangaroos.

Marc McGowan IN: Zach Dearing and Ryan Patten (Stanhope), Zach Fitzpatrick (Calivil United) OUT: Nic Varcoe (Picola United)

venel coach Tim Muir rates his latest batch of Swans superior to last year’s side that spent significant time inside the top five before eventually just missing out.

Muir set the bold goal of playing finals before last season – months after Avenel won four of 18 games – but it doesn’t seem so silly 12 months later.

Recruits Andrew Green, Grant Hateley and Dom Russo, who has since gone back to Seymour, were superb.

Russo isn’t the only major out, with captain and twotime best-and-fairest winner Nick Goodwin and ruckman John Burns also gone.

So where will the improvement come from?

“We’ve made a real focus this year to try and improve our depth, because we made no secret we were a bit thin last year and struggled to cover injuries to key players,” Muir said.

Andrew Green “We have a very young list, so through development,

training and playing together more, I’m hopeful we can be more consistent.

“We had a couple of losses in games we should have won and that can be the difference between making finals and not.”

Muir said the Swans also needed to narrow the gap between their best and worst.

Ex-Seymour player Cael McCarthy is the exciting in.

The ruckman-forward was good enough to kick a fourgoal haul at senior Goulburn Valley Football League level two years ago before struggling for opportunities last season.

Utilities Dean Fulco, Brett Williams, Sean O’Loughlin and the O’Connors – Nick and Joe – have also come on board.

Marc McGowan

IN: Dean Fulco and Brett Williams (Colbinabbin), Cael McCarthy and Sean O’Loughlin (Seymour), Nick and Joe O’Connor (break).

OUT: Lachie Dowling (Westmeadows), Dom Russo (Seymour), Nick Goodwin (Wallan), Lachie McKenzie (Tatong), John Burns (retired).

FAST FACTS >> COACH: PAUL BURNETT 2012 FINISH: SIXTH (9-8-1) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: STEVE THOMSON 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: ADRIAN MEKA (62) GROUND: LANCASTER RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: WOMBATS

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ixth place is a solid showing for most clubs. Just not Lancaster.

The reigning premier was a huge disappointment last year under resigned coach Tony McDonell.

Plenty went wrong, including injuries to key players, mid-season holidays – premiership forward Nic Casey went overseas – and repeat underwhelming performances from what was still a star-studded side.

Paul Burnett, who was just a player last year, returns as coach and will pull on the boots again to bolster a midfield that will miss fellow McNamara medallist Steve Thomson.

“We were disappointed with our year ... most thought we should have finished higher than we did, but we didn’t play well enough,”

Nic Casey

Burnett said.

“We want to improve on last year and, like every other side, we want to play finals.

“There are two or three

clubs clearly better than everyone else – Violet Town, Murchison and, probably, Stanhope – and we’ll be in the next group pushing for finals.”

Key backman Nick Bertoli, a Lancaster target for several seasons, is the top recruit and will be an assistant coach.

Burnett said the backline was an area the Wombats needed to improve in.

The forward line should be potent despite goal sneak Adam Nunn’s defection to Tongala, with Casey and Heath Barnett, who battled a major ankle problem last season, training strongly.

Burnett also has great hopes for teenage trio Dean Sing, Zach Cerrone and Jack Baum, who played in Lancaster’s under-18 premiership.

Marc McGowan

IN: Nick Bertoli (Katandra), Andrew Douglas (Clayton), Daniel Kelsey (Tongala), Kadeem May (Jabiru) OUT: Adam Nunn (Tongala), Steve Thomson (Mallee Eagles), Shane Sali (Merrigum), Andrew Ralph (Ardmona)

FAST FACTS >> CO-COACHES: RICKI SHINER AND SHANE CLEARY 2012 FINISH: 12TH (2-16) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: TOM STEVENS 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: TOM STEVENS (20) GROUND: LONGWOOD RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: REDLEGS

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four-pack of Euroa recruits will try to lift long-suffering Longwood out of the Kyabram District Football League cellar this season.

Ed Carracher, Jac SmithWilliams, Justin Saville and Davenall Mackrell cross from the nearby Magpies to join the Redlegs, who have won just seven matches in three years in the league.

They are yet to win the wooden spoon, but finishes of 12th, 11th and 12th have been less than ideal.

Brendan Redfern will not return as coach due to increased work demands; star assistant Shane Cleary and former coach Ricki Shiner will step up as co-coaches for the season.

It will be Cleary’s first foray into coaching, having joined the Redlegs last season, while Shiner was coach in 2011.

Cleary said the Redlegs’ aim was for continued improvement. ‘‘We made some steps

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forward last year and we want to continue on that path,’’ Cleary said. ‘‘The next step for us is to challenge the sides that are just above us.’’

Cleary said he had been impressed with their recruiting efforts – particularly the returning Marc Ericksen, Euroa duo Carracher and Saville, and Rumbalara youngster Blade Larkins.

Cleary said the club was pleased to have lost just one senior player from last year’s squad.

Adam Gough, who arrived as a possible solution to Longwood’s goal-kicking problems, is the only major out.

Marc McGowan Tom Stevens IN: Ed Carracher, Jac Smith-Williams, Justin Saville and Davenall Mackrell (Euroa), Marc Ericksen (Newcastle City), Blade Larkins and Michael Baxter (Rumbalara), David Cini (Newbridge), Kyle Galvin (Nagambie), Matt Naughton (Kew).

OUT: Adam Gough (Jacana).

FAST FACTS >> COACH: STEVE REEVES 2012 FINISH: FOURTH (11-7) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: LUKE CECCHIN 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JAMES MILNE (59) GROUND: MURCHISON RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: GRASSHOPPERS

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eet Violet Town’s major threat for this year’s Kyabram District Football League premiership.

Steve Reeves’ first year at the Grasshoppers’ helm, which included winning a final and finishing fourth, was just a taste of what was to come.

The reinforcements have arrived. There is the Heidelberg midfield trio with Goulburn Valley connections: John Shiels (Tatura) and Jeremy Ganino and Chris Cullinan (both Shepparton).

Shiels captained Murray Bushrangers’ 1998 TAC Cup premiership and joins an on-ball brigade that already includes the likes of Ash Vincitorio and Luke Cecchin.

The Shepparton links don’t stop there, with key-position players Anthony Mellington and Luke Chapman.

Mellington will be Murchison’s new spearhead and enable James Milne to spend more time further

IN: John Shiels, Jeremy Ganino and Chris Cullinan (Heidelberg), Anthony Mellington and Luke Chapman (Heathcote), Gerard Bence (break), Ben Warnett (Waaia) OUT: Terry Durward (Undera), Trevor Graham (Shepparton East), Justin Williams (Stanhope)

afield, while Chapman and ex-Shepparton United footballer Gerard Bence will be the Grasshoppers’ tall swing-men.

“We still have a fair bit of work to do, but we’d like to get that top-three berth and then take it from there,” Reeves said.

“Every player we’ve recruited is a multiple premiership player, whereas last year we specifically recruited between the ages of 18 and 24.

“We probably lacked a few wiser heads at the end of the campaign and that’s why we’ve gone down the road we have now.”

FAST FACTS >> COACH: CHRISTIAN BARNETT 2012 FINISH: 10TH (8-10) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: JOSH PELL 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JOSH PELL (36) GROUND: MERRIGUM RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: BULLDOGS

Reeves was most excited about his side’s new-found midfield strength, but said reigning premier Violet Town was still the team to beat and was also wary of Nagambie.

The three outs – key forwards Justin Williams and Terry Durward and onballer Trevor Graham – are significant.

Marc McGowan Chris Cullinan

errigum’s barnstorming finish to last season took everyone, apart from coach Christian Barnett and his troops, by surprise.

Barnett predicted it would take time to turn the Bulldogs’ fortunes around. Most expected that would take more than half a season.

But seven out of Merrigum’s eight wins came in its final nine matches in a remarkable rise.

Three Mooroopna recruits – none better than Ramadan Yze – and ex-Shepparton Swans and Lancaster key-position player Shane Sali and former under-18s century goal-kicker Francis Caldow should help continue the momentum.

“We’re going to try and get these new guys to mix in well into the group and the goal is just to get into the season and start a bit better,” Barnett said.

“We had some injuries and it took a while to jell and get used to new game plans and so forth last year.

“This year, given a step in the right direction, if we can start a bit better I’m sure the group and myself will endeavour to make finals.”

Barnett was quick to add he was under “no illusions” how hard the Bulldogs would have to work to be a top-five team.

The talent is there: Josh Pell, Josh Stammers, ex-senior coach Geoff Connally and Greg Sullivan will again perform major roles.

Shane Sali

“We’re not expecting miracles,” Barnett said.

“We expect the season to be tough, like everyone else is, but, hopefully, the guys who’ve come in will help us get a little further than last year.”

Marc McGowan IN: Mitch Younger, Daniel Dryden and Ramadan Yze (Mooroopna), Shane Sali (Lancaster), Francis Caldow.

OUT: None.

FAST FACTS >> COACH: LINC SULLIVAN 2012 FINISH: THIRD (13-5) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: BEN HUTTON 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: LUKE LARSEN (43) GROUND: NAGAMBIE RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: LAKERS

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here is much to like about Nagambie this season.

The Lakers have lost some senior regulars, but two of their biggest stars are back: talented utility Danny Haysom and eccentric forward Patty Rattray.

Then you throw in the Winter-Irvings – Hamish and Mitchell – and defender Jesse Tranter, who is raring to go after taking a break last year.

Not to mention a fitagain Mick Shiels and the increasing likelihood brother Jason, who has spent two years recovering Patty Rattray from a broken leg, will finally play again.

Nagambie was good enough to make the preliminary final last season. Retired premiership player Linc Sullivan returns to

replace Rob Auld as coach.

“I’d be disappointed if we weren’t similar (to last year) and on the side of getting better,” Sullivan said.

“I don’t want to put too much pressure on the boys just yet.

“The boys are keen. We have only four or five blokes 28 and over ... it’s a good spot to be in.”

Sullivan said Rattray, good enough to kick 155 goals in 33 games in his last two years at the Lakers in 2009 and 2010, was as fit as he had seen him in up to six seasons.

Nagambie’s forward line could include, at different times, Rattray, Hamish WinterIrving, Ben Hutton – who will play mostly as a midfielder – Jason Shiels and Haysom.

There will also be interest in how teenagers Mark Nolan and Mitchell Sanderson fare.

Marc McGowan

IN: Danny Haysom (Shepparton Swans), Patty Rattray (Tongala), Hamish Winter-Irving (Sandhurst), Mitchell Winter-Irving (South Bendigo), Jesse Tranter (break) OUT: Quaide Comi (Broadford), Luke Larsen (Diggers Rest), Adam Griffiths (Coburg Districts), Eamon Mannix (Richmond Central), James van de Pol (University Blues), Ricky Misiti (Keilor), Adam Bourke (Shepparton)

Football and Netball 2013 Page 39

FAST FACTS >> COACH: JAKE LLOYD 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (10-7-1) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: NATHAN GAGE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JAKE PERRY (54) GROUND: IRONBARK STADIUM NICKNAME: TIGERS

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FAST FACTS >> COACH: TROY AULD 2012 FINISH: NINTH (8-10) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: ALEC YOUNG 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: COBEY AYNSLEY (73) GROUND: GILL COCHRANE OVAL NICKNAME: LIONS

ivals learned local talent and we’ll plug to expect the some gaps out of town unexpected from ... the game plan will be Rushworth in the past simple and predictable, two seasons. but as long as we’re good But it will be a new-look at it others have to catch Tigers line-up with a new up.” approach this year under Matt Thomas and Jedd rookie coach Jake Lloyd.

Perry are co-captains and Among the key players to Lloyd is looking to Jak depart are Isaac Douthie, McMillan, Tyler Damon, Steve Kirby and Jeremy Alex Gelsi, Bernard Hitchcock, who resigned Howley, Jason Snelling coach Tim Wicks has taken and Michael Telford to with him to Inglewood. step up.

It remains to be There is doubt about seen whether the Daniel Lambden’s and reinforcements will cover Tom Clarke’s playing those losses, but Lloyd is status, but Andrew Clarke Jedd Perry most excited about Ben is fit again and Dylan Gill.

Flannery may be a fullGill, who will partner time player.

Jake Perry and Lloyd in Rushworth’s attack,

Marc McGowan booted 70 goals for Lower Plenty two years ago before a knee injury kept him sidelined IN: Ryan Charters, Graham Clarke and Sean last season.

Gledhill (Katandra), Phillip Kaja (Wallan), Paul “We’ve lost a lot of height, but we’ve done Morgan (Macedon), Steele Lloyd (Whittlesea), Lee what we can,” Lloyd said.

Rowland (Nairne Bremer), Ben Gill (Lower Plenty) “We’d be silly if we were not aiming to play OUT: Lenny Clarke, Louis Clarke and Darcy Pogue (Deniliquin), Tim Wicks, Isaac Douthie, Steve Kirby finals, but we’re sticking to a budget and we’re and Jeremy Hitchcock (Inglewood), Sam Nelson not going to spend big money to do it.

(Kyabram), Jason Webb (retired) “We’re trying to build a side around our

he return of premiership heroes Jarrad Mason and Matt Trist has buoyed hopes Stanhope will be a Kyabram District Football League contender this year.

Mason, a midfielder, and Trist, a versatile tall, join Murchison enforcer Justin Williams as the club’s top recruits.

Williams played interleague and kicked 41 goals for the Grasshoppers last season.

The veteran will have a big responsibility up forward for the Lions due to Cobey Aynsley’s decision to join brother Jeromy and former coach Brad Lowe at Shepparton East.

New coach Troy Auld avoided making any bold statements for his remodelled team.

“I find the predictions a bit pointless. They’re too hard to make. The mindset we’ll have is we’ll line up next to the other 12 sides and do the best we can,” Auld said.

“We’ve put the work in to make sure the guys have moulded and spent time together and I’d imagine our fitness should stack up okay.”

One change Auld will implement is ensuring the Lions move the ball quicker.

He was going to share the coaching role with Danny O’Bree, but O’Bree has withdrawn for work reasons and may not play, either.

Young guns James Fraser and Alec Young are gone, but Auld is excited about Hayden Durston, Jack Young, Reyne Auld and Tom Hepburn.

FAST FACTS >> COACH: MATT MAHONY 2012 FINISH: EIGHTH (9-9) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: ANDREW OLDFIELD 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: BRENT ARHO (123) GROUND: TALLYGAROOPNA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: REDLEGS

FAST FACTS >> COACH: TERRY MAHONEY 2012 FINISH: RUNNER-UP (15-3) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: DANIEL GODSMARK 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: ROB RUTLEY (91) GROUND: UNDERA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: LIONS

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ou have to be young players he is most prepared to fail excited about. But he said it Ben Pedretti to succeed. That is new would not take long.

Tallygaroopna coach Mahony raved about the Matt Mahony’s football potential of on-ballers Kane philosophy.

Handley, Harley Green and Brent Arho, a century Ben Pedretti and has big goal-kicker, and Dylan plans for athletic talls Tom Kerr, a multiple best-andHanning, Dylan Sheppard fairest winner, did not and Sean Arnold. fit into that philosophy.

“I want to be competitive Mahony informed both in every game this year he was not interested in and I want to play finals, having them at the club. but if we don’t, at the end He wanted reigning of it people will say we’ve best-and-fairest Andrew played good, intelligent Oldfield, but understood footy,” he said. the Melbourne-based on“Next year, hopefully, we’ll baller’s decision. only need to grab two or Mahony will instead turn three experienced blokes to youth – not only the newcomers, but the to rocket into finals.” talent already at the Redlegs – and develop

Marc McGowan those players into Tallygaroopna’s next stars.

IN: Andrew Botting (Shepparton United), David “The club’s going really well. We’ve been Gibson, Tom Hanning, Adam Serafini, Dylan getting 30 to 35 on the track every night,” Sheppard, Mathew Thomas and Kane Handley Mahony said.

(Shepparton East), Lachie Guthrie, Andrew and “It’s amazing just how quickly you can go in Michael Boyington and Ben Pedretti (Congupna), the right direction with culture and change a Damian Scott (Shepparton), Hayden Powles (Cobram) club if you make the right decisions.

OUT: Brent Arho and Dylan Kerr (Billabong “There’s no quick fix in footy. If you give Crows), Andrew Oldfield (Elsternwick), Aaron people time, hopefully, they give back to you.”

Wood and Danny Allen (Shepparton East) Mahony admitted most won’t know the

Page 40 Football and Netball 2013

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he post-Daniel Godsmark and Sam La Porta era starts now for Undera. The previous era included three grand finals and the 2009 premiership.

Returning coach Terry Mahoney is embracing the challenge rather than worried about what it might bring.

Lions premiership stars Spiro Vourgaslis and Ricky Luvara return to help the transition and Matt Wishart, Brad Moon, Andrew Dowell and Trevor Bailey have also recommitted.

“All indications are the group is relishing the challenge,” Mahoney said.

“We’re incredibly thankful for the contribution the two boys (Godsmark and La Porta) made and they will always be close to our hearts and synonymous with the success we had.

“The older boys see it as a great challenge to teach the younger boys coming through, and the younger fellas don’t know any different.”

Jarrad Mason

Defender Craig Emmett, who will also receive some midfield opportunities, and ruckman Tim Karolidis are set for major roles.

Marc McGowan IN: Jarrad Mason (Shepparton East), Jye Ledin and Brenton Sheppard (Heathcote), Justin Williams (Murchison), Matt Trist (North Bendigo) OUT: Brad Lowe, Cobey Aynsley and Jeromy Aynsley (Shepparton East), Ryan Patten and Zach Dearing (Girgarre), James Fraser and Alec Young (Tatura), Michael Coad (Mooroopna)

The “older boys” include playing assistants Daniel Breen, Alan Richardson and Danni Heazlewood, and Heath Fidock and Peter Vourgaslis.

They will mesh with a young brigade that includes Andrew Sait, Sam Mackenna and Dillion Davey, who kicked 13 of his 39 goals in last year’s under-18 finals for Tallygaroopna.

“There is quite an arms race going on in the KDFL ... so you’re never quite sure what the strength of the opposition is going to be,” Mahoney said.

“But as long as I can get the boys to play to their potential, or close to it, we’ll be satisfied with whatever result we end up with.”

Marc McGowan

Spiro Vourgaslis

IN: Zac Brian (Tatura), Patrick Dowell (Euroa), Terry Durward (Murchison), Sam Mackenna (Mooroopna), Andrew Sait (Shepparton United), Spiro Vourgaslis (Mooroopna), Ricky Luvara (break), Dillion Davey (Tallygaroopna) OUT: Sam La Porta (West Kimberley), Craig and Rob Rutley (Violet Town), Daniel Godsmark (Euroa), Michael Dann (St Joseph’s), Sam Gross

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here has been no shortage of talking points prior to this year’s Murray Football League season.

Both teams from last year’s grand final have new coaches, a two-time league best-andfairest winner and a senior playing coach have found new homes at rival clubs and a Goulburn Valley Football League best-andfairest winner heads a booming list of new arrivals in the league.

Another question on many fans’ lips is how far premier Nathalia will fall?

Last year’s premiership was a last hurrah for several of the club’s senior players and the Purples will have to rebuild under newly promoted coach Jason Limbrick, but the foundations of a finals side remain in place.

For many, Echuca United is the clear MURRAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE PAST 10 PREMIERS: 2012: NATHALIA 2011: DENILIQUIN RAMS 2010: MOAMA 2009: TOCUMWAL 2008: NATHALIA 2007: NATHALIA 2006: NATHALIA 2005: NATHALIA 2004: DENILIQUIN RAMS 2003: DENILIQUIN RAMS PAST O’DWYER MEDALLISTS: 2012: ROWAN PRIEST (ECHUCA UNITED) 2011: RYAN BONGETTI (COBRAM) 2010: RYAN BONGETTI (COBRAM) 2009: LEE WARNETT (TOCUMWAL) 2008: LEE WARNETT AND DARYL HARRISON (TONGALA) 2007: MATT BYERS (BAROOGA) 2006: MARTY BROOKS (BAROOGA) 2005: NATHAN GEMMILL (NATHALIA) AND JASON SANDERSON (MULWALA) 2004: ASHLEY GEMMILL (NATHALIA) 2003: GAVIN SPARKS (DENILIQUIN RAMS)

frontrunner, with the Eagles adding proven talent to a list that took many by surprise last year.

However, Scott Beattie’s men are almost certain to face stiff competition from the likes of Finley and Mulwala in the race for the minor premiership.

The Cats have suffered some key losses from the side that was beaten on the final day of last season, but have gained dual O’Dwyer medallist Ryan Bongetti from Cobram and bush footy legend Damian Sexton is a quality replacement for outgoing coach Rob Daniel.

Mulwala was once again thereabouts under Nick O’Bryan last season and enjoyed a relatively steady off-season – something not too many clubs have managed.

Numurkah lost influential playing coach and

full-forward Luke Jarjoura to Barooga, but provided the Blues can find enough avenues to goal, improvement and a finals berth does not look beyond them.

Cobram has raided the GVFL to boost its playing stocks, but much will depend on the co-coaching experiment of Mat Hyde and Trevor Mills, while Deniliquin Rams welcome back a handful of premiership players to support their developing senior list.

Can the likes of Tongala and Moama improve enough to play finals?

Both clubs have brought in top-end talent, with the likes of GVFL pair David Newman and Jordan Souter at the Blues and former VFL player Josh Maddox at Perricoota Rd, but both are coming from a long way back.

Much will rest on the shoulders of the

LADDER PREDICTION 1 ECHUCA UNITED 2 FINLEY 3 MULWALA 4 NUMURKAH 5 NATHALIA 6 COBRAM 7 DENILIQUIN RAMS 8 MOAMA 9 TONGALA 10 BAROOGA 11 RUMBALARA 12 CONGUPNA 13 TOCUMWAL

aforementioned Jarjoura, if Barooga is to live up to coach Shaun Robbins’ expectations.

At this stage Congupna, Rumbalara and Tocumwal look set to occupy the bottom three.

Given the sheer volume of departures, many expect The Road to plummet, while Rumbalara represents the great unknown, with a host of names linked to the club, but little confirmation of list expansion.

With the senior coaching saga finally behind it, Tocumwal has actually had a fairly productive off-season and the motivation to avoid a consecutive wooden spoon cannot be underestimated.

Hannah Driscoll

Nathalia

Jason Limbrick FAST FACTS >> COACH: JASON LIMBRICK 2012 FINISH: PREMIER (16-2) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: CHRIS ATKINS 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JASON LIMBRICK (84) GROUND: NATHALIA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: PURPLES

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he Nathalia team which takes to the field this year will be different from the one that came off the field, premiership in hand, last season.

Flag-winning coach Adam Quarrell is one of about a dozen departures from the premiership side and spearhead Jason Limbrick, who was best on ground in the grand final, is at the helm.

Limbrick said the focus this season was the development of the 17 to 22-year-olds at the club.

“We’ve still got a lot of experienced guys that have played in premierships who are still around, so definitely that’s a good thing for

Page 42 Football and Netball 2013

us,” Limbrick said.

“But really there’s a few things we really needed to get right this year and that was to make sure our young kids and development is spot-on.

“Our aim is to be back up the top of the ladder in the next two or three years, so that’s our sole focus and every decision we make is based around making sure we do that.”

Limbrick remains confident the mix of youth and experience could still earn the Purples another finals tilt.

“The boys have set themselves the goal, which we think is really achievable, to participate in the finals,” Limbrick said.

“If we can do that – I’m not saying we’re going to be at the top of the ladder – but if we can do that it’ll give us a real springboard into the next couple of years.”

Hannah Driscoll IN: Jarrod Bingham (University Blacks), Joel Cahir, Shane Cooper (both Picola United), Marc Hall (Surfers Paradise), Sean Mortimer (Waaia), Bobby Nichols (Strathmerton), Ian Fry, Lachlan Terry, Nathan Walsh (all Shepparton Swans) OUT: Chris Atkins, Tom Sheldon, Scott McCormack (all Kyabram), Michael Croxford (Mallee Eagles), David Daniel, Brett Vallender (both Picola United), Adam Quarrell, Ross Garner, David Lucas (all retired), Lucas Dainton (overseas)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: SHAUN ROBBINS 2012 FINISH: EIGHTH (7-11) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: SEAN ELLIS 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: CLINTON RUNNALLS (44) GROUND: BAROOGA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: HAWKS

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o name has sparked more conversation in Murray Football League circles than Luke Jarjoura this offseason.

After coaching Numurkah within two wins of finals last season, Jarjoura has turned up at Barooga this year.

Hawks coach Shaun Robbins wants to “move past the negativity” surrounding his signing and was full of enthusiasm when discussing his new star.

“I’ve spoken to him and he can’t wait to prove everyone wrong,” Robbins said.

“We’ve basically replaced what we’ve lost, but gained the best full-forward in the league.

“Once we got it forward we didn’t have any options last year, but with a key forward in Jarjoura the forward line will definitely improve.”

The big loss comes in the form of star on-baller Sean Ellis, along with former AFL ruckman Steve McKee and leading goal-kicker Clinton Runnalls.

Dylan Brooks and Matt Hendry have returned to the club, along with experienced Tatura pair Paul Neville and Scott Thorn and

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Luke Jarjoura

Robbins’ younger brother Ben. There will be a hefty reliance on junior players, but of the 14 players graduating from last year’s thirds group, seven have played senior football.

Robbins said the Hawks had “underachieved by a long way” last year and it would be the same if they did not play finals this season.

Damen Francis

IN: Dylan Brooks (Winston Grange), Matt Hendry (Nyora), Luke Jarjoura (Numurkah), Paul Neville, Scott Thorn (both Tatura), Chase Saunders (Berrigan), Ben Robbins (New Town) OUT: Sean Ellis (Ainslie), Brenton Runnalls, Michael Egan (both Tullamarine), Dan Ellis (Tungamah), Steve McKee (Yarrawonga), Joel Kirk (Rennie), Michael Chisholm (Katandra), Jeremy Stevenson (Coreen-Daysdale Hopefield-Buraja United), Clinton Runnalls (overseas)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: KEVIN O’DONOGHUE 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (13-5) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: TYSON SIDEBOTTOM 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: RYAN SIDEBOTTOM (58) GROUND: MEMORIAL PARK NICKNAME: THE ROAD

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or all the doom and gloom surrounding Memorial Park during summer, coach Kevin O’Donoghue says Congupna will be “not as bad as people think”.

It has been a rollercoaster

FAST FACTS >> COACH: MAT HYDE AND TREVOR MILLS 2012 FINISH: SIXTH (12-6) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: TOM CRAPP 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: ROBERT OSBORNE (73) GROUND: SCOTT OVAL NICKNAME: TIGERS

ride for The Road in recent seasons, with 2011’s wooden spoon immediately followed by a finals appearance last year.

An off-season exodus, led by best-and-fairest Tyson Sidebottom and captain Adrian Parker, has led many to believe The Road will be returning south this year, but O’Donoghue is not buying into it just yet.

“We’ve got our work cut out, but we’re being as positive as we can,” O’Donoghue said.

“I would rather be coaching a young side than older blokes that don’t want to be there.

“The depth is still there and we’ll still be thereabouts and pushing for finals.”

The likes of Matt Hodgetts Marcus Drum,

Mitch Sidebottom and Heath Barton ensure a nucleus of leaders remain, while Kenelley brothers Paul and Luke and Matt Hodgetts have returned to the club in its hour of need.

Young Goulburn Valley Football League products Nathan Reid, Jack Fuller and Keiran Sheehan, whose dad and former Benalla coach Peter will serve as O’Donoghue’s assistant, will help fill out the senior squad.

Damen Francis IN: Paul Kenelley, Luke Kenelley (both Beaufort), Matt Hodgetts (Shepparton East), Nathan Reid (Shepparton Swans), Jack Fuller (Shepparton United), Keiran Sheehan (Benalla) OUT: Ben Wellington, Eamon Reeves, Shannon Emmett and Daniel Burness (Katunga), Dion Gleeson (Shepparton United), Adrian Parker (Boort), Marc Bullen (Deer Park), Tyson Sidebottom (Shepparton Swans), Ryan Sidebottom (cricket), Jordan Hallam (Katamatite)

obram will be in uncharted territory as it adopts a top down approach to working its way back into premiership calculations.

Not only have the Tigers appointed co-coaches Mat Hyde and Trevor Tom Mills to replace Thorsen Mooroopna-bound Robert Osborne, they must also make do without two-time O’Dwyer medallist Ryan Bongetti, who has joined league rival Finley.

Four ready-made senior players have arrived from Goulburn Valley Football League struggler Shepparton, to soften the blows.

Tom Thorsen and Daniel McIntyre in particular will have an immediate impact in the engine room.

As much of a loss as Osborne is as a coach, he was also the club’s leading goal-kicker, and replacing his weekly scoreboard contribution appears the Tigers’ greatest challenge.

“We won’t have ‘Ozzy’ down forward as a vocal target, so we’ll need to run more and take the

game on,” Hyde said.

“Our strength is in our mid-size players and we’ll have to share that (goal-scoring) load a bit with a smaller, faster forward line.”

The Tigers huffed and puffed, but never got going last year and Hyde said beaten grand finalist Finley had provided a blueprint for his team to follow this season.

“Finley showed what a side that is fit and committed can do,” he said.

“They beat more fancied opponents with bigger names and that’s our approach, we just want to be competitive on a weekly basis.”

Damen Francis IN: Matt Campbell, Daniel McIntyre, Ben Ryan, Tom Thorsen (all Shepparton), Sam Gemmill (Calder Cannons) OUT: Cadeyn Williams (Coburg Tigers/ Richmond), Beau Wilson (Scarborough), Ryan Bongetti (Finley), Robert Osborne, Joe Sullivan and Kane Boyer (all Mooroopna), Shaun Wilson (Ardmona)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: GARY PARSONS 2012 FINISH: NINTH (7-11) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: NICK HOWE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: BRAD TODD (24) GROUND: HARDINGE ST OVAL NICKNAME: RAMS

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t’s no secret there was a belief last year that Deniliquin Rams could be bullied off the park.

It was one of the key reasons the Rams’ premiership defence did not go to plan and coach Gary Parsons has looked to address that deficiency in the off-season.

He has been aided by the return of key personnel, including premiership captain and ruckman Anthony Bull, while Ryan Chatterton and Tom Draffin are back from overseas.

Add to that the promising crop of young senior and thirds players from last year, and the balance of dash and muscle is encouraging to say the least.

“We won four of our first five (games) last year then really fell away,” Parsons said.

“We just lacked experienced bodies and that’s why we’ve brought in guys like Anthony Bull, Beau Close and Blair Whelan.

“To match the top sides we picked up some potent recruits and we’ll try and move the ball a little bit quicker.”

Brett McDonald has arrived from cross-town club Deniliquin Rovers to boost a lacklustre forward line, with three players heading the other way.

Skipper Nick Howe is once again setting the pace on the training track, while Ash Morris has benefited enormously from training with VFL club Bendigo Gold.

One player to keep an eye on is last year’s

Anthony Bull

thirds captain Brenton Loudon, who Parsons said had grown “five inches” over summer and will look to nail down a role across wing and half-forward.

Damen Francis IN: Simon Maher (Colbinabbin), Anthony Bull, Ryan Chadderton and Tom Draffin (all overseas), Brett McDonald (Deniliquin Rovers), Matthew Robinson (Parkside), Beau Close (Blighty), Blair Whelan (North Ballarat) OUT: Todd Gallacher, Sean Moodie and Lachie Small (all Deniliquin Rovers)

Football and Netball 2013 Page 43

FAST FACTS >> COACH: SCOTT BEATTIE 2012 FINISH: FOURTH (14-4) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: SCOTT BEATTIE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: DUANE HUESTON (51) GROUND: ECHUCA SOUTH RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: EAGLES

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chuca United looks to be the Rowan powerhouse on the Priest ground with the recruits added to an already successful 2012 squad.

United finished fourth last year, while Rowan Priest and playing coach Scott Beattie went one-two in the O’Dwyer Medal vote count.

But Beattie believes it’s the existing players who will determine the Eagles’ success this season, rather than the recruits who are “quality players in their own right”.

Being technically sound and developing a game plan to “stay one step ahead” of its competitors were key focuses during summer.

“When we do start playing you’ll notice a vast difference in our style of play and the way we move the footy,” Beattie said.

Echuca United took part in a training camp with Carlton in February, and Beattie said players’ fitness levels were starting to improve from what they’d learned.

He said the Eagles were monitoring Morrison Medal winner Guy Campbell’s old

back injury, but the Eagles’ recruit completed most of the pre-season training.

Beattie said the expectations for the season would be on reaching month-to-month goals, rather than finals and flags.

“Inside our four walls we’re only worried about what we’re trying to achieve and if that means we’re doing those things right we win games and that’s a real win for us,” he said.

“If that doesn’t work out we probably need to go back to the drawing board.

“There is no talk of premierships.”

Hannah Driscoll

IN: Philip Hazelman (Elmore), Joshua Rankins (Swan Hill), Clayton Zanella, Philip Hubbard, Guy Campbell, Rhys Egan, Daniel Cavallaro (Rochester), Anthony Baker (Hopetoun), Troy Ferrier (Sealake), Matt Dowie (time off football), Matt Noonan (Alice Springs), Nathan Kavanagh, Jarrod Prior (both year off ), Cameron Parker (overseas) OUT: James Deighton (St Mary’s), Jaidyn Eagle (Torquay), Justin Elingham (Mathoura)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: SIMON MADDOX 2012 FINISH: 11TH (2-16) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: RYAN EADE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JAKE KILMARTIN (39) GROUND: PERRICOOTA RD NICKNAME: MAGPIES

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ith a year of coaching under his belt, Simon Maddox feels much better prepared for his second season in charge of Moama and is assembling a squad to match.

The number of arrivals dwarfs the departures and the Magpies look well equipped to put the nightmare that was last season behind them and be among the league’s biggest improvers.

Maddox’s younger brother and Former VFL and SANFL player Josh Maddox could easily be one of the recruits of the season, while the return of 195cm ruckman Michael Sage will give Moama a much-needed boost in the big man department.

A raft of mature bodies

Michael Sage

including Wallan on-baller Shannon Galea will add a hard edge in the midfield, but Maddox said he was still hoping to see the

greatest improvement from the club’s 18 and 19-yearolds.

“We made a conscious effort to play our kids last year and worked hard to make sure we didn’t bottom right out,” Maddox said.

“We expect to make a giant leap, but we don’t have any grandiose plans.

“We want to play an exciting brand of football and make sure when sides come to Moama they don’t take the points easily like they did last year.”

The loss of Ryan Eade is significant, but the Magpies’ reigning best-and-fairest heads a short list of outs.

Former LeitchvilleGunbower player Ben Welch will serve as assistant coach.

Damen Francis

IN: Tyler Jones, Ayden Walton* and Ben Welch (Leitchville-Gunbower), Tom Merrett (Echuca), Michael Sage (Koondrook Barham), Matt Rickard (injury), Paul van der Sluys (year off ), Chris Boxtell, Shannon Galea and David Cornish (all Wallan), Tom Gilligan (Jerilderie), Mark Harrison (WAAFL), David Ismail (Blackburn), Josh Maddox (St Mary’s), Tim Scadden (Picola United) OUT: Ryan Eade (university) and Aaron Wilson (Boort)*

Page 44 Football and Netball 2013

FAST FACTS >> COACH: DAMIAN SEXTON 2012 FINISH: RUNNER-UP (13-5) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: NED MORRISON 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: REID CROWE (31) GROUND: FINLEY RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: CATS

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Hunger’ is going to be a word often associated with Finley this season.

After coming so close last year, the Cats will be Ryan Bongetti desperate to go one better and incoming coach Damian Sexton wants to harness that desire.

“Personally I think they were probably beaten (in the grand final) by an experienced side who taught the Finley boys a lesson early,” Sexton said.

“At this point we want to be in the top five, but we’re hungry to be better than that.” are hungry to be part of it,” he said.

The most disappointing aspect of the “The biggest thing for us is the community, departures is their youth, with Jordy Daniel, the people here really want us to do well, so Zach Brain and Reid Crowe all making major it’s up to us to work hard and get ourselves in strides under Rob Daniel last year. as good a shape as we can.”

However, in two-time O’Dwyer medallist

Damen Francis Ryan Bongetti, from Cobram, the Cats have secured a genuinely elite on-baller.

IN: Jake Plattfuss (Blighty), Ryan Bongetti The return of ruckman Dane Maxwell and (Cobram), Stephen Irons (Mandurah), Joel Bunce defender Tennyson Vance is a bonus, while (Bears Lagoon Serpentine), Levi Middleton Jake Plattfuss adds to the club’s booming big (Berrigan), Michael Royal (Katunga), Jesse man stocks.

Thornton (Nirranda), Dane Maxwell (overseas), There’s no shortage of support for Sexton’s Tennyson Vance (injury) OUT: Reid Crowe (North Albury), Zach Brain side to succeed on both sides of the fence.

(Coolangatta Tweed), Jordan Daniel (Benalla), “Guys like Jeremy Congram and Chris Patton Jordan Taylor (South Adelaide) that missed out on the grand final last year

FAST FACTS >> COACH: NICK O’BRYAN 2012 FINISH: THIRD (15-3) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: SEAN ROBINSON 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: ANTHONY GIULIANO (60) GROUND: LONSDALE RESERVE NICKNAME: LIONS

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he preliminary final loss to Finley last season hurt playing coach Nick O’Bryan, but has only made him hungrier to take the Lions further this year.

O’Bryan said club officials focused on recruiting experienced players, especially ones who had played plenty of finals football, as he felt inexperience let Mulwala down last season.

Another challenge was replacing forward Lee James, who booted the second-highest goal tally in the team last year (59 goals).

Landing Rennie’s Chase Strawhorn was key to covering the loss, with East Fremantle’s Josh Slattery and Lucas Olsen presenting other avenues alongside Anthony Giuliano.

In his recruits, who also include 194cm former Richmond-listed player Kyle Archibald, O’Bryan believes he has strengthened his midfield in particular.

“We probably were a couple of on-ballers

short last year, so when it came to rotations we probably didn’t have enough people to go through there, so that’s an area that should improve,” he said.

O’Bryan said improvement as a side from last season was the main goal at this early stage and he had not looked at the end of the year much.

One key area marked for improvement is use of the ball, particularly in the forward line.

“We need to have more Chase shots on goal for the Strawhorn amount of time we get it forward and our ball use around the ground was a bit ordinary,” O’Bryan said.

Hannah Driscoll IN: Kyle Archibald (Whorouly), Dean Bigger, Chase Strawhorn, Ben James (Rennie), Keegan Oliver, Tom Van De Merwe (Yarroweyah), Lucas Olson (Yarrawonga), Joshua Slattery (East Fremantle) OUT: Bodhi Butts (Tungamah), Lee James (Tungamah), Sean Johns (Wangaratta)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: BRENT CHAPMAN 2012 FINISH: SEVENTH (10-8) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: NICK FOTHERGILL 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: LUKE JARJOURA (53) GROUND: NUMURKAH SHOWGROUNDS NICKNAME: BLUES

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FAST FACTS >> COACH: DAMIAN MORGAN-BULLED 2012 FINISH: 12TH (2-16) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: BEN COX 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: GRAHAM WESTON (20) GROUND: MERCURY SPORTS COMPLEX NICKNAME: RUMBA

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ncoming This flexibility could Numurkah coach be crucial in attempting Brent Chapman to negate the loss of is almost glad the leading goal-kicker Luke Blues fell short of Jarjoura. finals last season.

Playing assistant Jake Heathcote’s 2010 Wilkinson can occupy key premiership coach positions in the backline believes the hunger and Brent and Matt for finals is more Chapman can play in the intense in the playing midfield and forward. group after finishing Chapman said the seventh last year, players identified two games and fitness as a problem percentage outside area last year, as the finals.

Blues were overrun in He said the first goal the final quarters of this season was to several matches, while Nick Fothergill make finals and he he expected players would reassess if the entering their third team achieved that. senior season to step up again.

“Just finishing out of finals last year, we’ve Reigning best-and-fairest Nick Fothergill kept the majority of them (the playing group) and Tim Arnel are among the players looking so they’re hungry to play finals footy now impressive. and they’re a real opportunity to do that,”

Hannah Driscoll Chapman said.

“Just missing out last year has probably been IN: Matt Chapman, Brent Chapman (both a good thing, whereas if they’d scraped in the Heathcote), Justin Murphy (Tatura), Jake Wilkinson hunger might not be as big as what it is.”

(Sandhurst), Trent McInnes (Newbridge) Flexibility with positions was a focus for OUT: Daniel Gledhill (Melbourne-based club), Luke Jarjoura (Barooga), Adam MacGibbon recruiting and Chapman expects his charges (Warragul), Brock Palmer (Yarroweyah) to be more than one-position players.

ookie senior coach Damian MorganBulled is looking to help Rumbalara improve after a disappointing last season where it dropped from fifth to 12th.

Although Rumba’s list of recruits is light, MorganBulled said there were still other players yet to be confirmed only weeks out from the first bounce.

He wants to build on the development of the young players and believes the established senior players such as Rex Taylor, Ryan Hudson and Levi Power, returning from a season with Shepparton, could guide the way.

Consistency through games is a major issue for the new coach, but he believes part of that hinges on the youth of the team.

“We were such a young side in terms of body shape and to play at a senior level in a major league like the Murray league you need to have

FAST FACTS >> COACH: SHANE GORMAN 2012 FINISH: 13TH (1-17) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: KIEREN ANDREW 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: MICHAEL MADDEN (28) GROUND: TOCUMWAL RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: BLOODS

FAST FACTS >> COACH: DAVID NEWMAN 2012 FINISH: 10TH (5-13) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: ADAM LOVISON 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: PATRICK RATTRAY (36) GROUND: TONGALA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: BLUES

C

ongupna, Tongala and Nathalia are the first three teams waiting to confront Tocumwal as it begins the task of climbing up the Murray Football League ladder.

The Bloods were wooden spooners last season and new coach Shane Gorman knew he had a challenge on his hands to lift the squad up from rock bottom.

There is some quality in the recruits, including Sorrento’s Dalton Sanderson, who played for Nepean Football League in the Country Championships last season.

The club has picked up several on-ballers including Matthew Neill, Harry Crowe and Trent Boglis, while Aaron Findlay can take a key forward position.

Gorman said the team was keen to show supporters and the club committee it was ready to play. “We’ve got to change a lot of things, but I think moving up the ladder and playing to a high standard is what we want to achieve,” he said.

“We’ve got a long way to go, but with the inclusion of a few recruits and the obvious senior footballers in regard to David Farrell, Nathan O’Connell, Jeremy Cardillo and those types.

David Farrell

“Then the younger types in Jordi Haynes, Aaron Morham, we’ve got some good quality young juniors, so I’ll be looking for a good mix there in recruits, local talent and obviously blooding a few juniors.”

Hannah Driscoll

IN: Matthew Neill (Lower Plenty), Aaron Findlay, Harry Crowe (both Rye), Dalton Sanderson (Sorrento), Josh Groves (Blighty), Josh Bozzola (Berrigan), Trent Boglis (year off ) OUT: Kieren Andrew (Heidelberg), Jack Podesta ( Berrigan)

bigger-bodied guys,” he said.

“Clubs do have kids running around, but the majority are bigger-bodied guys.

“We were the opposite; we had a side full of kids with slighter bodies and a couple of senior guys with them.”

Morgan-Bulled said most of the younger players were fitter than at the same stage last year.

Several graduating under-17 players, especially Casey Beckhurst and Power, have impressed the coach on the track, while Hudson was the “fittest at club at the minute”.

Hannah Driscoll

Levi Power

IN: Levi Power (Shepparton) OUT: Blade Larkins (Longwood), Nathan Terlich (Shepparton Swans), Dylan Cooper, Nathan Fejo (moved away)

N

ew Tongala coach David Newman concedes his side is “coming from a fair way back”, but an active off-season could be enough to see the Blues enter the finals discussion.

Newman has brought three mates with him from Kyabram, while the return of gun on-baller Jordan Souter from Mooroopna is another exciting signing.

Despite no less than 14 new faces, Newman said he was still trying to land “a ruck, a key forward and a key back”.

For now, recruits Nick Mellington and Matt Andrews will play as permanent forwards, with the former adding height, the latter, speed.

“We’ve got to improve most areas and I’m pretty keen to get in and try and change a bit of the culture,” Newman said.

“We’ll be a running side, we’ll try to get it down to our forwards as quick as possible.

“There’s no use bombing it long if we don’t have a big forward down there.

“The goal is to play a final, so we want to finish fifth or sixth and if we can do that it would be a successful season.”

Jordan Souter

Leading goal-kicker Pat Rattray is perhaps the most disappointing departure, but the significantly strengthened on-ball division makes up for it.

Quite whether it is enough for a finals berth remains to be seen.

Hannah Driscoll

IN: James Nanopoulos (Chelsea), Matthew Andrews, Tom Donnell, Jarrad Martin (all Cheltenham), Ben Scowen (Kongorong), James Lovison, Sam Tyler, Brad Canny, David Newman (all Kyabram), Adam Nunn (Lancaster), Jordan Souter (Mooroopna), Sam Lovison (Swinburne University AFC), Matthew Harvey (Braybrook), Nick Mellington (Billabong Crows) OUT: Cameron Taylor (Sunshine), Brett Scarcella, Daniel King (Nightcliff ), David White (Mt Eliza), Patrick Rattray (Nagambie)

Football and Netball 2013 Page 45

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Could the tide be turning?

A

change could be on the cards in Picola District Football League south-east this season.

There are plenty of unanswered questions.

Will Shepparton East drop off after the mass player exodus that has seen 16 premiership players and 26 senior squad members depart Central Park?

Is Waaia ready to take the next step after running the red-hot favourite Eagles all the way?

How good is Tungamah going to be with the acquisition of a group of former Murray league guns? Or Katunga for that

matter? Or Katamatite?

Where does Rennie fit post-Leigh Ramsdale?

And how much improvement can we expect from Dookie United and Katandra?

Waaia appears the frontrunner.

The Bombers have lost just former Pearce medallist Steve Scott, who returns to Shepparton United, and have quietly added some further depth to what was an already talented list.

Key forward Luke Cowan remains, as does midfield revelation Matt McCarty.

Greg Meyland remains a match winner and his

permanent shift into the midfield last year had a lot to do with why the Bombers played in the decider.

But Meyland himself believes Tungamah could prove the team to beat.

The Bears, who made a disappointing exit from finals last season, have added Mulwala spearhead Lee James and a group of his former Lions teammates.

Coach Damian Payne is also better for his first year at the helm.

Shepparton East coach Brad Lowe is confident the Eagles will remain in the

hunt in the post-Hayden Best era, while Katamatite expects to take another step after its improvement last year.

Katunga’s new coach Daniel Burness has brought some high-profile Congupna talent with him to the Swans’ nest.

Expect Katamatite, Katunga and Rennie – which will be a side to watch under new coach Ryan Forsyth – to fight it out for the bottom two finals positions, while Dookie United and Katandra won’t be far behind.

Patrick O’Meara

PICOLA DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE SOUTH-EAST PAST PREMIERS: 2012: SHEPPARTON EAST 2011: RENNIE 2010: SHEPPARTON EAST 2009: TUNGAMAH PAST PEARCE MEDALLISTS: 2012: NICK DOYLE (TUNGAMAH) 2011: LUKE COWAN (WAAIA) 2010: RICKY FRAPPELL (SHEPPARTON EAST) 2009: JASON WILD (KATAMATITE)

2013 LADDER PREDICTION 1

WAAIA

5

KATUNGA

2

TUNGAMAH

6

RENNIE

3

SHEPPARTON EAST

7

DOOKIE UNITED

4

KATAMATITE

8

KATANDRA

Shepparton East >

SHEPPARTON EAST FAST FACTS >> COACH: BRAD LOWE 2012 FINISH: PREMIER (16-2) 2011 BEST AND FAIREST: ROB OSBORNE 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: JONSE PALMER (73) GROUND: CENTRAL PARK NICKNAME: EAGLES

S

Brad Lowe

hepparton East has done its best impression of an ice hockey line change in terms of senior personnel over the off-season.

The Eagles have farewelled the nucleus of the squad that has led it to the past four Picola District Football League south-east grand finals, for two triumphs.

Among those to have flown the coup are former playing-coach Hayden Best, key position stars Robert Osborne and David Gillespie, and premiership best-onground Matt Hodgetts.

In total, 16 of the Eagles premiership heroes have departed.

But the Eagles have netted former Stanhope mentor Brad Lowe, who has brought with him a swag of recruits.

Many of them, including former

premiership player Danny Clarke, have former links to the Central Park tenants.

Clarke will be one of Lowe’s assistant coaches along with Shepparton United midfielder Ty Parsons.

Lowe expects the Eagles to remain around the mark, despite the turnover of his senior squad.

“We still have guys like Daniel Freeman, Frosty (captain Mark Frost) and Frapps (Ricky Frappell),” Lowe said.

“There are a lot of leaders still at the club

and we have added a good mix of youth and experience.”

He said it was a “new era” for the Eagles and he believed success could continue if his charges wanted to work hard enough.

“There is an opportunity there for all of us,” he said.

“If we want to do the hard work, all together, then we can stay right up there.”

Lowe said top three would be the Eagles’ aim.

Patrick O’Meara

IN: Brad Lowe (Stanhope), Danny Clarke (Blighty), Ty Parsons (Shepparton United), Mark Ferrari (Stanhope), Aaron Wood (Tallygaroopna), Daniel Allen (Tallygaroopna), Brad Armstrong (Stanhope), Rohan Stephenson (Woorinen), Cobey Aynsley, Jeromy Aynsley (Stanhope), Trevor Graham (Murchison), Lochie Morrison, Cale McCartin (Shepparton Swans), Jared Welch (Shepparton) OUT: Hayden Best (Shepparton Swans), Robert Osborne (retired), David Gillespie (Shepparton United), Matt Hodgetts (Congupna), Peter Ralph (Katandra), Jarrod Best (Hillside), Dallas Crowe (Strathmerton), Jarrad Mason (Stanhope), Kane Handley (Tallygaroopna)

Football and Netball 2013 Page 47

DOOKIE UNITED

KATAMATITE

N

R

FAST FACTS >> COACH: MATT MADDISON 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (6-12) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: MATT KITTO 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: PATRICK MCMULLAN (45) GROUND: DOOKIE RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: DOOKIE

ew Dookie United coach Matt Maddison is revelling in his role The former Shepparton Bear, who ventured out to Dookie Recreation Reserve four years ago, has always wanted to coach.

“I am really enjoying it,” Maddison said.

“All the blokes have made it a lot easier, helped me out a bit, so it has been good.”

Maddison said creating an enjoyable environment was a high priority.

“I just want to have an enjoyable, but still professional club,” he said.

“I think we have got the players that can match it with the best teams in the competition and all I want as the coach is for the players to enjoy pulling on the Dookie jumper and to give it their best shot.”

He believes the Dooks’ improvement will come from greater commitment from the playing squad.

“It is the commitment side of things,” he said.

“We had a lot of guys playing in the twos (reserves) last year that were easily good enough to play senior footy, but for whatever reason they lacked the motivation.

“That will be our real point of difference.

“The motivation is there and we have a lot of blokes eager to play senior footy.”

He said recruit Luke Harmer, from Queenscliff, had impressed on the training track as had returning Nathalia premiership player Campbell Marx.

Patrick O’Meara

Matt Kitto and Matt Maddison IN: Luke Harmer (Queenscliff ), Campbell Marx (Nathalia), Eddie Dickens (Bendigo), Lloyd Harriett (Shepparton), Ken McFarlane (returning) OUT: Callum Whitehead, Lachlan Whitehead

FAST FACTS >> COACH: DAMIAN KENNEDY 2012 FINISH: SIXTH (5-13) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: MARK BROWN 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: MARK BROWN (20) GROUND: KATAMATITE RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: TIGERS

ome wasn’t built in a day.

And neither was the Katamatite Football Club.

Winless in 2011, the Tigers made giant strides in 2012 to just miss out on a finals berth.

That is now their pass mark this year, says coach Damian Kennedy.

“The pressure is on us a bit,” Kennedy said.

“It is a real failure if we don’t play finals this year.

“Last year was obviously a big step for us. But the next step is to now play finals.

“We would ideally like to play one or two finals, get some experience, and that would be really good for us.

“That is what we are setting ourselves for, because we understand it is pretty hard to go to the top in just two years.

“We are still a work in progress.”

The Tigers have again added some talent to their

list and kept the losses to a minimum.

Last year’s best-and-fairest Mark Brown is also expected to return.

But Kennedy feels the

Andrew Taylor continued improvement will come from the Tigers’ youth.

“We are looking for the improvement to continue with guys like Nick Clurey, Braydon Kearns and Callan Aldridge,” he said.

“Those are the guys who have come out of the juniors and played a few games now.

“We are still quite a young list.”

Patrick O’Meara

KATANDRA

KATUNGA

W

I

FAST FACTS >> COACH: PETER RALPH 2012 FINISH: EIGHTH (4-14) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: DANIEL O’REILLY 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: LUKE SIMPSON (18) GROUND: KATANDRA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: KATS

hat a difference a year makes.

Last year, former Shepparton United big man Peter Ralph was part of the Shepparton East outfit that dominated the Picola District Football League south-east enroute to a second premiership in three years.

This year, Ralph is entrusted with leading the once mighty Katandra back from its first-ever wooden spoon last season.

It is challenge that Ralph is looking forward to.

“There have certainly been plenty of ups and downs and there has been a lot of work put in for little reward, but we are going to keep working hard,” Ralph said.

“Coming from the bottom is tough, but our first task has been to keep it positive and create a good vibe.

“The boys that have stuck around and committed are

FAST FACTS >> COACH: DANIEL BURNESS 2012 FINISH: SEVENTH (5-13) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: AARON KELLY 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: BRETT SPARGO (35) GROUND: KATUNGA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: SWANS

all really keen for success.”

Ralph was drawn to the club by the challenge of rebuilding and to rejoin close mates Grant McClarty and Brendan Briggs, who he played with at United.

“I am closer to the end (of my career) than I am to the start,” he said.

“Be great to be able to play with those boys again and a couple of other mates that have come out.”

He said the Kats were aiming for finals.

“We want to play finals, plain and simple,” he said.

“That will be the pass mark for us.”

Patrick O’Meara IN: Peter Ralph (Shepparton East), Mick Chisholm (Barooga), Alistair Ingram (La Trobe University) OUT: Dan O’Reilly, Cam Calder (both Shepparton United), Nick Bertolli (Lancaster), Luke Simpson (Shepparton Swans)

Page 48 Football and Netball 2013

IN: Michael Hare (Heathcote), Andrew Taylor (Shepparton), Rhys Colbeck (Tallygaroopna), Jordan Hallam (Congupna), Troy Dunn (Barooga) OUT: Ollie Ross (Ballarat), Tim Kelly, Ben Kelly (both Shepparton)

Gregor Teague

t will be a case of same colours, different club for a lot of Katunga’s incoming recruits.

New coach Daniel Burness has brought a swag of his former Congupna teammates, who also don a red-and-white strip, to Katunga Recreation Reserve.

The most notable are Ben Wellington and Shannon Emmett, who Burness expects will have a significant impact from round one.

Burness said the Swans were pleased with their recruiting efforts.

“We have injected some quality footballers, that is for sure,” Burness said.

“We are quite happy with what we have picked up so far and if anything, we probably just lack a little bit of height.

“But it has certainly been a positive start.”

He said Wellington had been the standout in pre-season, “head and shoulders above everyone else”, while “local” young guns Josh Stanaway and Brad Crowther had also impressed.

It is Burness’, a former skipper at Congupna, first foray into coaching.

“It has been really enjoyable so far,” he said.

“All the blokes are putting in and we have worked quite hard since before Christmas.

“It has been a bit of a learning curve, but I have certainly enjoyed it so far.”

Burness said the pre-season goal was simple – make finals.

Shannon Emmett

“We are just going to aim for top five,” he said.

“We know we are coming from a fair way back, so our goal is to just get back into the finals action.”

Patrick O’Meara IN: Ben Wellington, Shannon Emmett, Eamon Reeves, Todd Bush, Liam Bush, Michael Amadei, Sam King (all Congupna), Luke McPhillamy (Nathalia), Jon Treanor (Huntly), Sam Burness (Shepparton United) OUT: Krys Douglas, Andrew Douglas (both Mernda), Aaron Kelly (unknown)

RENNIE

FAST FACTS >> COACH: RYAN FORSYTH 2012 FINISH: THIRD (13-5) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: JOHN MCHENRY 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: CHASE STRAWHORN (111) GROUND: RENNIE RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: GRASSHOPPERS

R

yan Forsyth is relishing the challenge of overseeing a changing of the guard at Rennie.

Forsyth took over the role from Leigh Ramsdale at the end of last season after the Grasshoppers bowed out in a preliminary final against Waaia.

A year earlier Ramsdale had led the Grasshoppers to a maiden Picola District premiership against a more favoured Shepparton East outfit.

Ramsdale’s exit was followed by some of the Grasshoppers’ key players moving, namely dual century goal-kicker Chase Strawhorn, Pearce Medal runner-up John McHenry and former AFL player Tim Hargreaves.

But that has not fazed the new mentor.

“The losses have made coming into the coaching role a challenge, but I think that is a really good thing,” Forsyth said.

“I wouldn’t be taking on the role if I wasn’t up for it.

“Whether that means recruiting, or coming up with a game plan to suit our new side.

“It is definitely something that I have embraced.”

While mentioning a new game plan, Forsyth was quick to state there would not be wholesale changes.

“I think it is easy to get a bit too complex at the standard of football we are playing,” he said.

“Obviously Leigh has had success in the past, so it will remain similar to the style of play the boys know, just slightly tinkered with.”

Forsyth said he was pleased with the quality of the Grasshoppers’ recruits, with the majority having strong links to the Rennie region.

Patrick O’Meara Ryan Forsyth

IN: Joe Cunnington, Scott McDonald (both Monash Blues), James Price, Bernard Price (Darwin), Jeremy Murphy (returning), Joel Kirk, James Leech, Jamerson McCluskey (all Barooga) OUT: John McHenry (Essendon Doutta Stars), Tyson Ednie (Cairns), Chase Strawhorn, Dean Bigger (both Mulwala), John O’Callaghan, Tim Hargreaves (both Yarrawonga)

TUNGAMAH

FAST FACTS >> COACH: DAMIAN PAYNE 2012 FINISH: FOURTH (10-8) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: JUSTIN SAUNDERS 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: TOM WREN (68) GROUND: JUBILEE PARK NICKNAME: BEARS

S

econd-year Tungamah coach Damian Payne is not one for outlandish comments.

Last year he had a simple goal for the Bears – make finals.

Check.

This year he simply wants to improve on that.

And improve the Bears should with an influx of talent, spearheaded by Mulwala goalkicker Lee James.

He is joined by former Lions teammates Damian Cook, Bodhi Butts and Chris Johnstone, former Yarrawonga gun Sam Keenan, returning player Daniel Ellis, Benalla All Blacks’ Jake Jones, Jerilderie’s Scott Sanderson and Jindera’s Jaryd Stevenson as new inclusions.

To date, the Bears have lost no players that made a semi-final last year only to be humbled by Rennie.

“We played finals, finished fourth and the aim we set at the start of each year is to go better than we did the year before,”

Payne said.

“We have managed to keep our list, then add players that we felt our side needed, so we feel that top three is a very realistic goal for this group.

“But you never know, there is a lot of water to go under the bridge between now and the end of the season.”

Payne said all the recruits had impressed, while seasoned Bears campaigners Matt Clark and Nick Doyle had lifted to another level.

“They have lifted the bar a lot higher,” he said.

“But I am happy with all the boys and their fitness levels.”

Patrick O’Meara IN: Lee James, Damian Cook, Bodhi Butts, Chris Johnstone (all Mulwala), Sam Keenan (Avondale Heights), Daniel Ellis (Barooga), Jake Jones (Benalla All Blacks), Scott Sanderson (Jerilderie), Jaryd Stevenson (Jindera) OUT: None

Lee James

WAAIA

FAST FACTS >> COACH: GREG MEYLAND 2012 FINISH: RUNNER-UP (13-5) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: MATT MCCARTY 2012 LEADING GOAL-KICKER: LUKE COWAN (92) GROUND: WAAIA RECREATION RESERVE NICKNAME: BOMBERS

I

t has been an uncharacteristically quiet off-season for last year’s runner-up, Waaia.

The Bombers have retained most of their list, excluding 2008 Pearce medallist Stephen Scott who is returning to Shepparton United, and have added three former players – Mick Henderson, Sam Richardson and Brendan Stevens.

Brenton Lowe, who missed all of last year after a shoulder reconstruction, will also return.

Bombers coach Greg Meyland said his side was eager to go one better than last year’s grand final loss against Shepparton East.

“We got there and didn’t quite get the result,” Meyland said.

“That is probably why all of the boys have stuck around, that feeling of unfinished business.”

The Bombers are considered the early team to beat, but Meyland said that was not the opinion out at Waaia Recreation Reserve.

“That all just comes from having played in the granny,” he said.

“There are a lot of sides that have picked up and we would expect it to be a pretty even competition again.

“We will, like last year, be aiming for top

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three and we still think we are capable of that.”

He said Henderson and Richardson would boost the side, returning from metropolitan stints, while Waaia-raised Stevens – fresh out of the Goulburn Valley Football League – had been welcomed back with open arms.

“This is probably Brendan’s last hurrah and we are pretty happy to have him back where it all began,” he said.

Patrick O’Meara

IN: Mick Henderson (Aberfeldie), Sam Richardson (Eltham Collegians), Brendan Stevens (Benalla) OUT: Stephen Scott (Shepparton United)

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Football and Netball 2013 Page 51

“It comes down to training and hammering home how important

Kyabram

all training sessions are, so that every time you get on the court you do it with purpose.”

– Shepparton coach Tracey Brereton

LADDER PREDICTION 1

KYABRAM

7

ECHUCA

2

SWANS

8

BENALLA

3

SHEPPARTON

9

ROCHESTER

4

MANSFIELD

10 SEYMOUR

5

EUROA

11 MOOROOPNA

6

UNITED

12 TATURA

BENALLA

ECHUCA

EUROA

KYABRAM

FAST FACTS >> COACH: ROBYN SMITH 2012 FINISH: SEVENTH (9-9)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: GINA PEARSON 2012 FINISH: NINTH (6-12)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: JENNY BARLOW 2012 FINISH: EIGHTH (7-10)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: BELINDA LEES 2012 FINISH: PREMIER (15-3)

Benalla coach Robyn Smith said five players from last year’s team had begun university this year, and she was unsure how many could commit to travelling back for games until they were settled.

Reigning best and fairest winner Tylah Marchbank and Kellie Keen provide two bookends on the court.

Clashes with VNL commitments impacted the Saints’ 2012 season and this pre-season, with potential A-graders Grace Thomas, Ellie Warnock and Georgia and Martine Rodger involved to some degree with VNL. Smith said it was enjoyable last season to see the young players “learning their craft so well and playing such outstanding netball”.

COACH’S COMMENT >> “The VNL will probably clash again, but we’ll just have to be prepared and make sure at the end of the season . . . they’ve come on, because I think the standard is excellent.”

Echuca will have one particular attribute that will worry rival clubs this season; an element of unpredictability. Not a lot has changed at a club that slipped down the pecking order last season, but coach Gina Pearson is happy to work with the young talent she has got, even if it means inconsistency.

Former Wellman Family medallist Sharon Henson has returned to the fold to help fill the void left by pregnant midcourt star Holly Long.

Promising teenager Bree Gilmour has arrived from Moama and could join fellow teens Greta Pearson and Georgie Eishold in the A-grade squad.

Sheridan Townrow will again be the focal point in attack, but Pearson wants whoever plays alongside her to make their defender accountable.

COACH’S COMMENT >> ‘‘There is a lot of learning to do, but there is a good feel about the club.”

Jenny Barlow has returned to GVNL netball from Barooga with an eye to help Euroa continue its climb up the GVNL ladder.

Under playing coach Kelly Hill, the Magpies went from 12th to eighth, and Hill approached her 2005 Shepparton United premiership teammate to coach the Magpies this year.

The majority of the 2012 side remains, but Caitie Mitchell has gone overseas. Barooga’s Masie Barlow and Shepparton East gun goaler Jenny McCluskey are among the recruits, along with new faces Sophie Hayes, Sarah Tearnes, Kate Rankin and Chanelle Paulke.

Barlow said the club would hold some training sessions in Melbourne to accommodate the metropolitan-based players.

COACH’S COMMENT >> “They would be starting to have a bit more confidence in themselves as a club and as a team because they have been able to get halfway up the ladder.”

Kyabram super-coach Belinda Lees insists there’s plenty of hunger left in her group to remain the team to beat in 2013.

As if that news wasn’t bad enough for the Bombers’ rivals, the two-time reigning premier has snared the league’s most dominant goaler, Katherine Hard.

Hard will play alongside Elle Groves, with Lees shifting back to centre, but is unlikely to be the focal point in attack that she was at Seymour.

The Bombers have also lessened the blow of losing brilliant defender Lauren Pryde, with the acquisition of exciting 16-year-old Amy Gledhill from Echuca District Netball Association.

COACH’S COMMENT >> “We had a practice match against Shepparton Bears and Ash (Mangan) said at one point she forgot Lauren wasn’t there. We can definitely improve and give it a good shake again.”

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MANSFIELD

ROCHESTER

FAST FACTS >> COACH: JADE HEINRICH 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (11-7)

FAST FACTS >> COACHES: RACHEL WHIPP AND ELLIE CUTTRISS 2012 FINISH: 10TH (2-15-1)

One year down, now Jade Heinrich (nee Hottes) believes the fun stuff can begin.

Her first year as playing coach was about getting to know the players and getting the first-game plans in place, and she now plans to develop those further.

The A-grade side will look slightly different, with Helen Barclay and Stacey Northey unable to travel from Melbourne and captain Nat Taylor retiring.

Yarra Valley Grammar Ariels player Elly Stewart, Lauren Tesoriero, Meaghan Tanner and Lisa Hueston are the new faces in the team.

Heinrich said goaler Lucy Marks would be one to watch this season and had been selected as vice-captain..

COACH’S COMMENT >> ‘“It’s been really enjoyable for me and (husband) Greg because now it’s the fun stuff when you can really work with that selected side and really pull out the strengths from within those players.”

Rachel Whipp (nee Withycombe) hopes to make the most of her experience at Shepparton United as she joins Ellie Cuttriss as the new co-coaches at Rochester.

Whipp and Cuttriss will join reigning club best and fairest Bridget Holt in the side, while B-grade winner Eliza Hodgens could be promoted to A-grade.

2011 B-grade league medallist Leah Cottam returns after her pregnancy last year and Whipp hopes defender Kate Chirnside could travel back from Melbourne. Shaelyn Walsh and Tess Ringin are also looking to graduate from 17-and-under to A-grade.

Whipp said this would be a development year and she hoped to use that to attract back to the club former Rochester players who had joined surrounding leagues.

She said the opening match against Echuca would be a good gauge of the team’s progress.

MOOROOPNA FAST FACTS >> COACH: KELLIE STEVENS 2012 FINISH: 12TH (1-17)

CO-COACH’S COMMENT >> “We’re just

looking at development in positions and court play, bringing some things I’ve learnt over the years from the coaches I’ve had and trying to bring that into play with the Rochy girls.”

SEYMOUR

Mooroopna has quietly gone about its business this off-season and there is plenty of interest in the results.

The Cats finished bottom of the pile last season and have brought in a new coach, Kellie Stevens.

The club’s netball director Millie Campbell was tight-lipped about the process, but happy with the progress.

Sam Gill has arrived from Stanhope and already shown leadership capabilities, and along with former Shepparton Swan Clare Coppinger will play a key role in attack.

Katherine Bohn has stepped up from the under-17s and Jaclyn Bell from B-grade, while Lauren Orr has joined the Swans.

Any improvement on last year is the initial aim.

FAST FACTS >> COACH: ASH CHAPMAN 2012 FINISH: SIXTH (10-8)

DIRECTOR’S COMMENT >> “From her

Seymour faces a rebuilding year under new coach Ash Chapman.

Rebecca Bath, Tegan Hansen and Erin Engel are the only remaining players from last year, but Riddell and District Netball League’s best and fairest Sarah Douglas will join the midcourt.

Chapman said the club would invest in its youth, with Ellie O’Sullivan set to take the step from 17-and-under to fill a goaling void left

by Abby Misiti (pregnant) and Kathryn Hard (Kyabram).

Chapman, a VNL 19-and-under coach, said this season would be about building on what the players already knew.

professionalism you can tell she’s going to make a difference. It’s been very positive, we’ve had really good attendance at training and there’s more enthusiasm and confidence.”

curve because we are building the team from the ground up, it’s not like I’ve taken over and there’s still half a team.”

SHEPPARTON UNITED

FAST FACTS >> COACH: JANA BRUINIER 2012 FINISH: RUNNER-UP (14-2-2)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: DI HANSLOW 2012 FINISH: FOURTH (14-4)

New A-grade coach Jana Bruinier has enlisted the help of former Melbourne Vixens coach Julie Hoornweg to help overcome the Swans’ grand final blues.

Hoornweg will serve as coaching mentor to help the club’s coaches deliver the messages needed to crack that elusive premiership.

First things first, though; the Swans need to make it back to the grand final with a newlook team.

Of last year’s squad, leading defender Bec Dudgeon has joined Katandra, Abbey Pettifer has returned to Tongala and Nat Simpson has family commitments.

Defender Erin Hopkins has arrived from Stanhope, while mid-courter Eliza Woodhouse and tall defender Gabi Johnston have stepped up from the under-17s.

Bruinier said basically the Swans would be similar to last year.

COACH’S COMMENT >> “We’ve got the skill and fitness to get there, we’re just working on promoting self-belief.”

The 2012 GVNL Rising Star winner Hayley Fairless will do a 180 in 2013.

Fairless will return to goals where she played the majority of her netball before last season when she established her skills as a defender.

The move is to negate the loss of goalers Kali Guilmartin (moved away), and Sophie Atkinson (year off ).

Rachel Withycombe (now Whipp) moved to Rochester and Michelle Barzen had decided to play B-grade, but the door is open for an A-grade return.

Coach Di Hanslow was working with an A-B squad and a number of players from the club’s different grades will get an opportunity.

Hanslow said United was an unknown quantity at the start of the season.

COACH’S COMMENT >> “When you’ve got so many young players sometimes it takes them a while to find their feet, other times they just step up and take all before them and do exceptionally well.’’

SHEPPARTON FAST FACTS >> COACH: TRACEY BRERETON 2012 FINISH: THIRD (14-1-3)

By and large, teams have lost or gained during the off-season.

Shepparton has bucked the trend and, given last year’s effort, why not?

The Bears were not far away last season and picked their teams way back in November.

Katie Thorn comes in, Bree Bott goes out, but otherwise things are as they were.

Bears coach Tracey Brereton described Bott as a “really big loss”, but was excited about the acquisition of the former Tatura mid-courter.

Natural progression and maturity will be the key to Shepparton’s premiership aspirations.

COACH’S COMMENT >> “We need to be able

to execute our skills under pressure. It comes down to training and hammering home how important all training sessions are, so that every time you get on the court you do it with purpose.”

TATURA FAST FACTS >> COACH: KAREN HANDS 2012 FINISH: 11TH (2-1-15)

Dealing with wholesale changes is becoming the norm for Tatura coach Karen Hands.

For the second year in a row, Hands is the sole remaining player from the previous year’s A-grade team.

Alex Bartam and Leanna Couston have returned to the Bulldogs’ den, the latter as coach of the club’s under-17 team, while midcourters Latoya Wards and Jessica Beaton have arrived from out of town.

Couston and Sophie Varapodio will likely form the initial goaling combination, with Bertram starting alongside Hands in defence.

Aimee Corken looks set to earn promotion from the Bulldogs’ next crop of under-17s.

The first priority will be surpassing the two wins sustained last year.

COACH’S COMMENT >> “It’s a very young team, so it’s a bit of an unknown, but a new team brings fresh hope.”

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BAROOGA

ECHUCA UNITED MULWALA

Did not field an A-grade team this year.

COBRAM

FAST FACTS >> COACH: SHARRA BEASLEY 2012 FINISH: EIGHTH (8-10)

A new initiative and a committed approach has Cobram ready to turn potential into progress.

Sharra Beasley continues as A-grade coach, with assistance from Marlo Zito.

Former Shepparton player Tanya Clarke has impressed everyone, while Felicity Miller is new to the area and could be another to join the A-grade squad. Ruby Lane has left the area, Di Bourke is expecting a baby and Erin Higgins is injured.

CONGUPNA FAST FACTS >> COACH: DWIGHT GRAHAM 2012 FINISH: SIXTH (10-1-7)

What were once strengths have faded and weaknesses fortified in an intriguing summer at Memorial Oval.

Gone are two of the club’s three excellent goalers, leaving Kelly Tucker alongside lofty newcomer Simone Bruton in attack.

Midcourter Izzy Gribben will step up from B-grade and so impressive has zippy junior Ataliah Zito been in pre-season that she too joins the A-grade squad.

DENILIQUIN FAST FACTS >> COACH: VICKI CARMICHAEL 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (11-7)

Vicki Carmichael’s greatest challenge as the new A-grade coach of Deniliquin will be managing a sizable playing list.

A host of returning players – including Amelia Wyatt and Allison Yeates – coupled with no departures, means the shelves are fully stocked. Carmichael said the Rams’ burgeoning roster would require a reshuffle, particularly with several promising juniors also in the mix.

Chantall Barnes and Bec White will once again play key roles as the Rams look to go deeper into finals with a “faster and more dynamic style”.

FAST FACTS >> COACH: TINA RANKINS 2011 FINISH: NINTH (8-10)

FAST FACTS >> COACH: CASEY HUDGSON AND KATE LYNCH 2012 FINISH: RUNNER UP (16-2)

New Echuca United coach Tina Rankins is going back to basics as she attempts to build a finals contender from within.

Midcourter Paige Conder and goaler Erin Hill have returned home and are the only new faces, along with Rankins, who arrived from Swan Hill.

Rankins said the new group could take time to jell, but skills training would begin on a high fitness base.

Casey Hudgson has enlisted the help of defender Kate Lynch as co-coach as Mulwala looks to put last season’s grand final heartbreak behind it.

Goal keeper Erin Crowhen is gone and goaler EJ Schifferle has been unable to commit fulltime, but utility Eliza Strawhorn and defender Maddie Hocking have joined from Yarrawonga as like-for-like replacements.

Hudgson said the co-coaches had similar ideas and there was a belief within the group that lessons had been learned from last year.

FINLEY FAST FACTS >> COACHES: DI SEXTON AND SALLY BICKERTON 2012 FINISH: PREMIER (14-4)

The stars aligned for Finley last year and with the B-grade team finishing runner-up, there is depth at the club should the Cats’ premiership defence require it.

Co-coaches Sally Bickerton and Di Sexton return, while classy defender Sam Doyle is back from Western Australia.

Premiership goaler Jess Casanova and wing defence Ricki-Lee Casey are out, but defender Allison Rooke, who was best-on-court in last year’s grand final, will return.

The Cats face a tough draw, but should they navigate that successfully another top-two finish will be in their sights.

MOAMA

FAST FACTS >> COACH: PAM VIRGO 2012 FINISH: FOURTH (11-2-5)

Moama coach Pam Virgo wants her players to back their instincts more this season.

The Magpies were a contender last year and have been using their new pre-season competition to fine-tune their preparation.

Virgo said players had been developing their “sixth sense”, something they “didn’t tap into enough” last season.

Brilliant young goaler Bridgette Furphy remains, but she will need a new partner following the loss of Khaysan Kimberlin.

Maddison and Steph Jones return to fill the void.

Karen Cocking and Morgan Power have also departed, with Anna Holfield and Georgie Crowe stepping up from B-grade.

NATHALIA FAST FACTS >> COACH: LISA BARNES AND MAREE ROSS 2012 FINISH: SEVENTH (8-10)

Nathalia has opted for a two-pronged attack to replace coach Denise Cusack and break the cycle of the past two seasons.

Playing coach Lisa Barnes will be assisted by Maree Ross and the plan is to better last year’s second straight seventh-place finish.

Von Denton has gone overseas, Gemma Cusack and Blaise Mortimer have injuries and Jakara Lancaster and Rebecca Tenace are pregnant.

Barnes said the Purples were working on skills and fitness and outgoing players would be replaced with juniors and B-graders.

NUMURKAH FAST FACTS >> COACH: RENEE JUDD 2012 FINISH: THIRD (13-1-4)

The re-commitment of Leanne Rawson is the most exciting development at Numurkah this season.

Rawson suffered a knee injury last year and upon her return opted to concentrate on soccer. However, netball is back on top of her list and she joins an already competitive side.

Glenys Zucco has departed, but everyone else remains, with Mikaela Hoffman, Teagan Sutton and Zoe Davies stepping up from the under-17s.

With Rawson slotting in at centre, Judd is happy with the way the team is coming together and said if players could avoid injury the Blues “should be in the mix”.

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Finley

RUMBALARA FAST FACTS >> COACH: LEONIE DWYER 2012 FINISH: 10TH (8-10)

Did not return calls.

TOCUMWAL FAST FACTS >> COACH: CHERYL MEARS 2012 FINISH: 13TH (1-17)

It has been tough going, but Tocumwal has an A-grade coach and will hit the court this season. With last year’s under-17s coach Cheryl Mears now at the helm, the Bloods have a lot of motivation to improve their win-loss ratio.

They will have to do so with a new-look attack, with Jacinta Bolpe and Katrina Chellew taking the year off and set to be replaced by Ashlee Mears and 16-year-old Ashlee Garlick.

Leah Pate and Brooke Wilson will return to form a steady defensive pairing and Mears will look to build from the back to the front.

TONGALA FAST FACTS >> COACH: DYLAN NEXHIP 2012 FINISH: 11TH (5-13)

New Tongala coach Dylan Nexhip is not messing about. The squad has been expanded, training has been under way for months and goals set.

“We’ll aim for the grand final, but definitely want to finish top three with the team we’ve got,” Nexhip said.

Shepparton Swan Abbey Pettifer is the boon recruit, joined by former Kyabram players Sarah Pettifer, Moana Waarsdorp and Carla Ryan. The Blues have regained Tracey Hughes and retained star defender Alicia White, while Allison Yeates is the only departure, after moving to Deniliquin.

DOOKIE

Former under-15 league medallist Breanna Olsson has returned to the Eagles after a stint with Shepparton Swans.

Alessi said supporters could expect a “similar style game” to recent seasons, but potentially a new method of moving the ball down to the goalers Rebecca Kulari and Karli Spencer.

Katandra

FAST FACTS >> COACH: TANYA CARUANA 2012 FINISH: SIXTH (6-12)

Former Benalla Saints A-grade coach Tanya Caruana has found a new home for the 2013 season as Dookie’s head coach.

Among the recruits are Shepparton Swans Laura and Katie Moon, while Serrin Gardner hopes to make a return from injury.

Caruana is still finding her midcourt combination, but Katie Moon and Lyndall Hackett are already working well together in goals.

Another change is United’s 17-and-under team will train with the A-grade team this year.

TUNGAMAH FAST FACTS >> COACH: ANNIE WICKHAM 2012 FINISH: THIRD (13-5)

KATAMATITE FAST FACTS >> COACH: CASSIA SAUNDERS 2012 FINISH: EIGHTH (1-17)

Rival clubs will hardly recognise Katamatite this year.

After winning just one game in the past two seasons the Tigers are almost certain to be the competition’s biggest improver.

Former GVNL president and Shepparton Swans B-grade premiership player Cassia Saunders has arrived as playing A-grade coach, and has brought along her sisters, Tesslyn Saunders and Sharna Sibio, and Swans teammate Carina Tenace.

They join budding youngsters Rebekah Riordan, Tess Lawless, Ria Hodge and sisters Emma and Sarah Skehan, although the latter attends university in Ballarat.

Saunders has high hopes for the season and is intent on “developing the talent that’s already there”.

KATANDRA FAST FACTS >> COACH: GRANT MATTHEWS 2012 FINISH: PREMIER (14-4)

The Cats gained sweet revenge for a grand final loss in 2011 with their own premiership win last season.

Katandra took the longer route through finals, but regrouped to end Shepparton East’s perfect season and prevent the Eagles going back-to-back.

Grant Matthews is back at the helm for A-grade, but had to confirm several possible departures from the side.

Pip Costley is one confirmed departure for the A-grade side due to work commitments in Melbourne.

A big inclusion for the club is former Shepparton Swan and defensive star Bec Dudgeon who has also taken the reins as B-grade coach and took some of the fitness sessions in the pre-season.

KATUNGA FAST FACTS >> COACHES: MATT HEALEY & MELISSA HALL 2012 FINISH: SEVENTH (2-16)

Melissa Hall is back at Katunga after a year off with her pregnancy and will join president Matt Healey as A-grade co-coach.

The Swans left selections until late in the preseason and only Hannah Rendell and Rachael Fothergill remain from last year’s side.

Healey said results would be “up in the air” and there were no expectations on results, and the focus would instead be on developing young players.

Members of the 2012 17-and-under premierships side could be among those promoted this season.

RENNIE FAST FACTS >> COACH: WENDY BROOKS 2012 FINISH: FOURTH (9-9)

Wendy Brooks has made the switch from

Barooga to coach Rennie this season after the Grasshoppers were knocked out of the semifinals last season.

Georgie Bruce has been ruled out for at least the start of the season with pregnancy, but defender Sarah Bruce and goaler Gabe Florence will both return after their pregnancies.

Mid-courters Zoe O’Callaghan and Carly Brooks have also joined the A-grade team.

The new coach said this season would be a learning curve and she would take it slowly to start with as she got to know the players on and off the court.

SHEPPARTON EAST FAST FACTS >> COACH: BIANCA ALESSI 2012 FINISH: RUNNER-UP (18-0)

A changing of the guard is under way at perpetual premiership challenger Shepparton East. Just two players remain from the A-grade side that went through last season undefeated and finished runner-up in the grand final.

Tanya Clohesy and Rebecca Gawne will form the cornerstone of the Eagles’ rebuild under new coach Bianca Alessi.

Last year’s B-grade coach is stepping up to A-grade, along with much of her squad and a few of the club’s juniors.

New Tungamah coach Annie Wickham has set her sights on taking the Bears to the next level this season. A third-place finish in 2012 showed they were not far away, and, with teams around them expected to slide, this could be their time.

Wickham, who coached B-grade last year following a cartilage problem in her knee, is hoping to return to the court in B-grade.

Defender Sarah Jones has returned from Rennie, Tahlea Hayes – who Wickham described as a “smart little accurate goaler” – is back from university and Clare Hocking has joined from Yarrawonga.

Last year’s coach Molly Saunders will continue to play, and Wickham wants to carry on her work, just with “a bit more intensity”.

WAAIA FAST FACTS >> COACH: RHONDA CLEELAND 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (9-9)

Waaia is hoping to slip under the radar this season. That could be the approach on a weekly basis, with limited height but plenty of speed at the Bombers.

Reigning best and fairest Kelly Sullivan and Amy Williams are pregnant and Sheree Baker has work commitments.

Ryley McLean, Rachel Thorne and Amy Williams have joined the combined A- and B-grade squad from the under-17s.

Coach Rhonda Cleeland said it had proven difficult to attract new players to Waaia, but that promoting youth was moving in the right direction.

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FAST FACTS >> JOINED TAC CUP: 1993 GROUND: WANGARATTA SHOWGROUNDS COACH: DARREN OGIER REGION MANAGER: ANDREW CARSON PREMIERSHIPS: 1998, 2008 GRAND FINAL MEDALLISTS: M. STEVENS (1998), S. SIDEBOTTOM (2008) MORRISH MEDALLISTS: D. MURRAY (1997), F. PRIEST (2008) 2012 FINISH: FIFTH (10-7) 2012 BEST AND FAIREST: SAM MARTYN 2012 LEADING GOALKICKER: KAIDEN ANTONOWICZ (33)

T

he TAC Cup remains the premier stage for aspiring professional footballers to show their wares and Murray Bushrangers coach Darren Ogier wants his players to do just that this season.

With another group of bottom age players coming in Ogier and his support staff will once again need to adjust their methods to suit the new skill set at their disposal.

But that’s all part of the job.

“You have got to continually be fluid in your approach,” Ogier said.

“Last year we had half a dozen marking players, but it’s a stronger

running group this year.

“We want to see their strengths and they have the opportunity to show everyone what they can do.

“You don’t know year to year what you’re going to get, but it’s fantastic to see the way kids come on over the course of the season.”

The squad was confirmed last month and now Shepparton Swan Jarman Impey, Kyabram’s Nick Holman and Shepparton duo BJ Squire and Matt Brett continue to impress after showing promise last year.

Of the next crop, Benalla pair Nick Mellington and Caleb Marchbank

have caught the eye.

Ogier said Mellington was as “strong as an ox and uses the ball extremely well”, while Marchbank’s growth had helped him develop from a courageous flanker to a hard running key position player.

Last year Katamatite defender Tom Clurey (Port Adelaide) and Seymour on-baller Josh Prudden (Western Bulldogs) made their way onto AFL lists via the National Draft, while Cobram’s Cadeyn Williams and Myrtleford’s Matt Taberner were rookie listed by Richmond and Fremantle respectively.

Ogier saw no reason that

achievement could not be matched by this year’s crop, but said that and premierships were not the only measures of success.

“We want to win more games than we lose, but improvement is the main thing we want to see,” he said.

“We have 45 players on our list and if improves 10 per cent that’s a 450 per cent better team and that sounds pretty good to me.”

The Bushrangers kick off their season against a highly-touted Geelong team at Highgate Recreation Reserve on March 30.

Damen Francis

MURRAY BUSHRANGERS’ SEASON FIXTURE ROUND 1

NORTH BALLARAT REBELS at Queen Elizabeth Oval

April 13

ROUND 2

GEELONG FALCONS at Highgate Recreation Reserve

March 30

ROUND 3

BENDIGO PIONEERS at Deakin Reserve

April 6

ROUND 4

GIPPSLAND POWER at Highgate Recreation Reserve

May 25

ROUND 5

EASTERN RANGES at Norm Minns Oval

April 27

ROUND 6

DANDENONG STINGRAYS at Shepley Oval

May 5

ROUND 7

NSW/ACT RAMS at Albury Sports Ground

May 18

ROUND 8

WESTERN JETS at Norm Minns Oval

June 1

ROUND 9

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS at Norm Minns Oval

June 16

ROUND 10

OAKLEIGH CHARGERS at Warrawee Park

June 22

ROUND 11

BENDIGO PIONEERS at Queen Elizabeth Oval

June 29

ROUND 12

DANDENONG STINGRAYS at Norm Minns Oval

July 6

ROUND 13

NORTH BALLARAT REBELS at Highgate Recreation Reserve

July 13

ROUND14

CALDER CANNONS at Norm Minns Oval

July 28

ROUND 15

EASTERN RANGES at Bayswater Oval

August 3

ROUND16

SANDRINGHAM DRAGONS at Victoria Park

August 18

ROUND 17

NORTHERN KNIGHTS at Norm Minns Oval

August 24

Jarman Impey

“We want to win more

games than we lose, but improvement is the main

thing we want to see.”

– Coach Darren Ogier

Darren Ogier

Page 56 Football and Netball 2013

MURRAY BUSHRANGER’S SQUAD NUMBER

PLAYER

CLUB

BORN

1

BRADY PRITCHARD

YARRAWONGA

03/12/96

2

DAVID MENNEN

BENALLA

16/12/96

3

JARMAN IMPEY

SHEPPARTON SWANS

09/07/95

4

DYLAN WILSON

WANGARATTA ROVERS

11/08/95

5

ELIJAH WALES

MYRTLEFORD

22/01/96

6

MATTHEW MUNRO

ALBURY

17/11/95

7

MICHAEL GIBBONS

LAVINGTON

15/05/95

8

HENRI PENI

SHEPPARTON SWANS

01/02/96

9

TYLER BERRY

NORTH ALBURY

17/01/96

10

NATHAN DRUMMOND

MOOROOPNA

19/01/95

11

KIERAN ELLIS

ALBURY

30/01/95

12

JACK CROWE

EUROA

22/03/95

13

LOUIS VESCIO

WANGARATTA MAGPIES

18/11/95

14

JAKE SHARP

MYRTLEFORD

11/01/95

15

RYAN SPEED

ALBURY

14/09/95

16

MATTHEW BRETT

SHEPPARTON UNITED

02/08/94

17

KRISTIAN CARY

NORTH ALBURY

15/03/95

18

NICK MELLINGTON

BENALLA

22/05/96

19

PATRICK SULLIVAN

MYRTLEFORD

24/03/95

20

JAMES MARTYN

BENALLA

19/06/95

21

NICK HOLMAN

KYABRAM

29/05/95

22

CALEB MARCHBANK

BENALLA

07/12/96

23

MAX KING

WAGGA TIGERS

24/09/95

24

RYLEY NORRIS

ALEXANDRA

03/01/95

25

JAKE WILD

YARRAWONGA

09/07/96

26

BRODIE WEBSTER

BENALLA

16/02/96

27

BRYDEN SQUIRE

SHEPPARTON

23/02/95

28

TOM HOLMAN

KYABRAM

24/09/96

29

BRYDON HODGSON

LAVINGTON

16/09/96

30

JAMES TABERNER

MYRTLEFORD

04/04/95

31

JACKSON CLARKE

WANGARATTA MAGPIES

15/10/96

32

JADE CLEELAND

WANGARATTA MAGPIES

30/03/95

33

HARRISON PAYNE

COROWA-RUTHERGLEN

03/05/96

34

NICK COUGHLAN

ALBURY

12/09/96

35

DYLAN VAN BERLO

WANGARATTA

16/01/95

36

MITCHELL MAHADY

NORTH ALBURY

09/09/96

37

LACHLAN DEVINE

MOOROOPNA

11/07/95

38

DAN HOWE

RENNIE

04/12/95

39

JYDON NEAGLE

WALLA

29/08/94

40

ISAAC EDGAR

ALBURY

28/08/95

41

ROBERT STAFF

EUROA

02/05/96

42

WILL CARLILE

WANGARATTA ROVERS

02/07/96

43

NICK SNEYD

SHEPPARTON UNITED

08/04/95

44

MITCHELL DALBOSCO

MYRTLEFORD

13/02/95

45

ALEX TATTERSALL

MOOROOPNA

11/03/96

46

KAYNE TURNER

WODONGA BULLDOGS

31/12/95

Nick Holman

BJ Squire

Football and Netball 2013 Page 57

N

ew Goulburn Valley Football Umpires Association president Darren Meek is excited about his new role.

Meek, a nine-time senior grand final umpire including five Goulburn Valley Football League deciders, was eager to put his hand up when John Paterson decided to call time on his five-year reign.

“Patto has been a really good president for the past five years and when he indicated that he wanted to step aside to give someone else a crack I decided to put my hand up,” Meek said.

“We have had three or four people change on the actual executive, so we are hoping to bring a few different ideas and enthusiasm.”

It will be Meek’s 11th year umpiring.

He decided to pick up a whistle after a long football career that included stints with Avenel, Seymour and Tullamarine.

Umpiring was his way of staying involved.

“Once I retired from footy, I had a year or two away from it, and I really missed the contact with footy clubs,” he said.

“I thought I would give it a go, see how I enjoyed it - and I have never looked back.

“It has been really good.”

He said the association was still seeking new members and he encourages people to consider taking up a role.

“It is a great way to stay involved,” he said.

“You get to be involved with local sport, local football and the local community - and for people that it is important to, you get paid as well.”

He said anyone could give it a go.

The GVFUA provides central, boundary and goal umpires for games in the Goulburn Valley, Murray, Picola District, Kyabram District and Shepparton District Junior football leagues.

Training is held at Shepparton’s Chas Johnson Reserve on Tuesday and Thursday nights from 6 pm. >>For more information on becoming an umpire contact recruiting manager Greg Sidebottom on 0419 154 097 or adviser Chris McCallum on 0427 646 365.

Patrick O’Meara

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