DEFENDING premiers, Wandella are set to unveil two returning players and a key new recruit tomorrow in the opening round of the Golden Rivers Football Netball League season.
The Bombers, who will unfurl their 2017 premiership flag prior to the opening siren, go into their match against Moulamein as favourites thanks to a strong history against the Swans and the recruiting of two key players in the past week.
Former Tyntynder coach, Jay McDonald and Macorna defender, Lachlan Allison – who crossed over to the side in the past week – are returning to the Wandella Recreation Reserve this season, with the pair to give Paul Grayling’s side extra strength in the back third of the ground.
However, it is the recruiting of Woorinen stalwart and Central Murray Football Netball League grand final player, Jason Iannucci that will give the defending premiers extra confidence against a side that was one of the biggest movers and shakers early on in the pre-season.
The Swans were the most productive side during the pre-season, with the club able to entice a number of Central Murray Football Netball League-experience players to the banks of the Edward River.
Buoyed by the club’s best performance in six seasons, Tony Mudge will have the likes of Woorinen grand final utility, William Watson, former Tyntynder player Ben Seton-Stewart and former Woomelang-Lascelles premiership defender, Anthony Foott at his disposal.
The addition of Watson will cover the loss of Xavia Elford, who joined Tooleybuc/Manangatang during the summer, with the Swans boasting on paper its best team since last appearing in the finals 10 years ago.
History will favour tomorrow’s hosts though, with the Swans last winning at the Wandella Recreation Reserve more than 10 years ago.
Wandella won by more than 50 points on each occasion both sides met last year. A much closer margin is predicted tomorrow.
PREDICTION: Wandella will win by 30 points.
Massive midfield battle
A MIDFIELD duel between two of the Golden Rivers Football Netball League’s top players will highlight tomorrow’s round one match between Murrabit and Quambatook.
Former E.G. Hunt Medallist, Bryden Morison will make his coaching debut for the Blues, but it will be his match-up against Saints playmaker, Jack Baker that will determine the result of the game.
Last season’s semi-finalists lost a number of key players during the pre-season, with Matthew Angel, Josh Dwyer, former coach Hugh Foott, Sam Harvey, Damian Hirst and Thomas Holdstock playing elsewhere this season.
Foott and Harvey were the only players out of the key departures who played in last season’s first semi-final loss to Nullawil, with Dywer and Hirst missing most of the second half of the season.
Morison, as well as veterans Simon Morton and Nathan Henry, will be pivotal to the hosts’ chances, with Henry to again be one of the competition’s top forwards.
Tomorrow will also be a special day for Quambatook coach, Adam Pollock, with the tall returning to the venue where he played his last game in the GRFL – Wakool’s 2013 premiership win.
Although Pollock will not have goalkickers Jason Linke and Ethan Tibbles at his disposal after the pair left the club during the pre-season, the return of Andrew Spengler will give the visitors’ forward line added strength.
Murrabit has won its past four matches against Quambatook, with the Saints last winning at the Murrabit Recreation Reserve in May 2015.
PREDICTION: Murrabit will hold on for a 10-point win.
Tough initiation
NEW Macorna coach, Wayne Wishart faces a tough initiation to his coaching tenure tomorrow.
Last season’s eight-placed side will travel to Hay to take on one of the teams set to challenge for the premiership.
The Lions, under the guidance of Daniel Gash, have put together its best line-up since its 2015 finals campaign, and will aim to add a fifth consecutive win in their head-to-head battle against the Tigers.
The addition of former Lion and Heathcote District Football Netball League Cheately Medallist, David Fevaleaki, as well as Gash’s former Wedderburn teammate, Hayden Polglase will more than cover the loss of Taylor Williamson, whilst Jackson Ferguson will continue to be a valuable asset to the New South Wales club’s campaign.
It is a different situation for the Tigers, who have lost a number of key players during the pre-season.
Gone from last year’s side are defender Lachlan Allison, ruckman Sam Ayre, leading goalkicker Daniel Edwards, playmaker Jessi Lampi and 2017 GRFL most valuable player Ricki Waters.
Matthew Angel’s decision to cross over from Murrabit to the Tigers will give Wishart another defensive option alongside Jordan Simpson, whilst former Echuca player, Shaun Haffenden will be the focal point in front of goal.
The Lions won by 166 points when the Tigers last travelled to Hay Park 12 months ago, with the last meeting between both sides resulting in a 62-point Hay victory.
PREDICTION: Hay will win by at least 60 points.
Hawks’ Farmer challenge
WAKOOL will become the first side this season to take on the newest player to the competition boasting Australian Football League experience.
The Hawks travel to Nullawil tomorrow, with the Maroons set to mark the league debut of former Port Adelaide and Richmond defender, Mitch Farmer, who joins Jackson Ferguson (Hay) and Jaden McGrath (Wandella) as former AFL alumni.
Farmer’s inclusion, as well as the recruiting of Rochester veteran Sam Brennan, makes the Maroons one of the premiership fancies.
Farmer is set to play midfield or in the forward line alongside Kal Heslop, with the pair capable of kicking multiple goals against a Hawks outfit that may spend most of the season in the bottom half of the ladder.
Hawks co-coaches Reagan Hamilton and Craig Loomes will be best suited to take on Farmer and Heslop, whilst Joshua Flight’s role in the midfield will determine how many inside 50 entries the visitors will be able to benefit from.
Although the New South Wales-based team go into a new season without former GRFL leading goalkicker Luke Kirkland, the recruiting of Chris Wilson from Macorna will give the side an edge.
The small forward dominated for the Tigers under the leadership of Wayne Mitrovic, and could be a pivotal goalkicker if he receives the same support from the Hawks.
Nullawil has won its past six games against Wakool, with both of last year’s meetings resulting in games where the Mallee-based side kicked at least 30 goals.
PREDICTION: Nullawil will win by 80 points.
• ULTIMA has the bye, and will open its season with a trip to Moulamein on April 14.
