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