Footy is back! Central Highlands Football League starts this weekend

AFTER what seems like forever grassroots football gets back on the park this weekend with the first round of the Bendigo Bank & Rural Bank Central Highlands Football League.

Creswick v Clunes
BOTH the Wickers and Magpies didn’t have the best 2018. Yet Creswick’s 4-12 record perhaps isn’t a true reflection of the side’s campaign last year as they dropped a few close ones. Had some kicks been different their win/ loss ratio might have looked a lot healthier. Clunes picked up just one win, defeating Rokewood Corindhap in the last regular season game. Barring a draw one of these clubs will start the season off in the top half of the ladder.

Dunnstown v Waubra
LAST year’s minor premiers start their campaign away to the Towners who ended up playing finals football due in part due to two points resulting from a no contest draw. The Roos only dropped one game in 2018 but were bundled out of the postseason at the preliminary final stage, going down by two-points to a Beaufort side that would go onto claim the flag. Dunnstown finished the season strong, winning the last five games they played but couldn’t keep that momentum going, well beaten by Springbank at the first hurdle.

Gordon v Skipton
THE Eagles had a strong 2018, finishing third overall and earning the second chance. They needed it beaten by Beaufort by 17 points in the first round of the finals, only to bounce back a week later and put down Newlyn. It wasn’t sustainable though as they lost seven days after that to eventual grand finalists Buninyong at the preliminary stage. Skipton on the other hand went 6-12 and finished in 13th.

Hepburn v Daylesford
THE Bulldogs get their season underway with their shortest road trip of the season as they head 10 minutes north along Hepburn Road to take on the Burras. Daylesford finished two places out of the wooden spoon and recorded just two wins in 2018. Their opponents on the other hand played finals football, albeit one game of it, after finishing the season sixth on the ladder.

Buninyong v Bungaree
LAST year’s runners up, Buninyong, will look to get their season off on the right foot with a win at home. It won’t be an easy task though as the visiting Demons will be no easy beats. Bungaree missed the finals by two points last season, despite their winning record and decent percentage. They struggled against the top teams in the comp but had not trouble dispatching the also rans.

Newlyn v Springbank
SEVEN hosts five from last year’s finishers in a matchup of two teams who both saw post-season action in 2018. Neither team earned the second chance, but at the same time neither needed it as both progressed past the first round, with the Cats squeaking forward by two points. Yet they were also both stopped at the semi-final stage.

Rokewood Corindhap v Learmonth
NEITHER of these teams were super competitive last season. The Grasshoppers went 3-13 while Learmonth also couldn’t manage a winning record, going 7-8-1.

Beaufort v Carngham Linton
THE Crows will raise their 2018 flag at home against last year’s wooden spooners, Carngham Linton. Beaufort’s championship was their first in 22 years and be sure the club will be unwilling to go that long between drinks again. The Crows second place regular season finish, going 14-2 meant they lost more games than the 1-15 Saint won. This game has a later start time of 4.30pm.

Ballan starts the season with a round one bye.