Bloods embrace high BFNL expectations

SOUTH Bendigo co-coach Jack Fallon says the Bloods are embracing the heightened expectations following an ultra-exciting BFNL pre-season on and off the field.

The Bloods, who kick off their 2025 campaign against Strathfieldsaye at Harry Trott Oval this Saturday, will enter the season with a vastly new-look lineup compared to the one that won just four games last year and ended the season in seventh place.

No club was likely more active on the recruiting front than South Bendigo, starting with a pair of new coaches, with Troy Coates making

the move from Kerang, where he enjoyed multiple-premiership success, and Jack Fallon returning to the BFNL after savouring flag success at White Hills last year as co-playing coach.

The talent pool has been significantly bolstered by the additions of – among others – ruckman Macgregor Cameron, midfielder Josh Nitschke, from Kerang, Joel Swatton (returning following a stint at Maryborough), Kaiden Antonowicz, ruckman Callum Crisp, Hayden Geddes and Tom Brereton.

Pleasingly for the Bloods, Cameron, Nitschke and Swatton were among the standouts from their three practice matches against Moama, Kyabram and Mount Pleasant.

Fallon said the injection of fresh and returning faces had contributed to the positive vibe around South Bendigo.

“It’s exciting. I actually come along to days like this with a smile on my face knowing what the club has built,” he said at last Friday’s BNFNL season launch in Bendigo.

“For Troy and me to have recruited what we have and to assemble the group we have, it’s going to be a very exciting year ahead.

“I know we have a very tough first five games coming up, but you want to beat the best to be the best.

“Strath in round one, they were obviously in the prelim last year; Gisborne lost the grand final last year, and we have them in round two; and Eaglehawk on Anzac Day.

“It’s a tough few weeks, but every team in the BFNL looks like shaping up well. There will be no easy games this year.”

The Bloods’ Anzac Day match will now be played under lights at the QEO, after originally being fixtured at Harry Trott Oval. Fallon – a best and fairest winner at his former BFNL club Eaglehawk in 2018 – could not speak highly enough of the new coaching partnership with Coates.

“You couldn’t ask for a better co-coach,” he said.

“I did it with Kaiden (Antonowicz) last year and he was really good, but to have the experience Troy has got is amazing.

“He has won so many flags and obviously I am coming off one last year. We are gelling together so well; not one fight yet, which is nice.

“We agree on everything. Credit to the club for the way they went about getting us both together.

“It was superb.”

Fallon is confident the Bloods can give a good early account of themselves against the Storm on Saturday.

“Selection for round one will be interesting,” he said.

“I reckon we have around 28 players who could play in the seniors in round one.

“It’s going to be tight and tough, but if the club and the team want to be strong, it has to be like that.

“I’m excited by what’s ahead.”

In other round one match-ups, Golden Square hosts Eaglehawk at Wade Street, Kangaroo Flat and Gisborne clash at Dower Park,

and Sandhurst and Castlemaine meet at the QEO.