Game on in Loddon League – 2022 season preview

Bears Lagoon Serpentine

The club has appointed twenty-five-year-old Justin Laird as senior coach following a successful rebuild led by Greg Gadsden.

The BLS line-up had a 5-6 record on the way to a fifth-place finish in the shortened 2021 campaign.

Recruits include Rhonen Maher from WA, Jacob Szitovsky, Athony Brown, and Charlie and Harry Gadsden.

A major blow for the club was gun ruckman Nathan Twigg heading to Boort, and the Bears will also be without Tannar Cerrone.

It will be a new-look attack for the side as James Rippingale has joined Heathmont, Brodie Hawke has gone to Ramco, and Orion Downing to Huntly.

 

Bridgewater

A premiership-winning player with Hawthorn in 2008 and premiership-winning player at Bridgewater, Rick Ladson, rejoins the Mean Machine as senior coach.

Ladson’s 125-game career in the AFL began in 2012 and went for 10 years.

He was playing coach of Golden Square in 2013 as the Bulldogs won the premiership cup for the fifth year in a row.

Ladson takes charge at a club which had a 10-2 record and was third when the Loddon Valley’s 2021 season was called off.

Bridgewater’s recruits include Harry Donegan, a premiership-winning player with Golden Square, and Riley Treloar.

Major departures are Jarrod Fitzpatrick and Liam Jacques to Golden Square.

 

Calivil United

A new-look Calivil United will take to the Calivil ground in round one against Inglewood.

The Demons have recruited Jack Daley from Huntly to be senior coach and are aiming on a big improvement from last season’s 2-9 tally.

A big intake of recruits at Calivil United includes Jacob Greenwood as assistant coach, Phil Ryan, Blayne, Ryan Storey and Lachlan Mangan.

Other newcomers for the red and blue include Mitchell Deering, Corey Pearse, Will Pressnell and Stanton Till.

The club will be without last season’s best and fairest and assistant coach Brady Childs who has joined White Hills in the same role.

 

Inglewood

Despite a winless run in 2021, Inglewood has become a destination club.

The Darrell Billett-coached Blues have welcomed midfielders Bregon Cotchett and Charlie McGaw from Balwyn and De La Salle respectively.

Also new to Inglewood’s squad are Charlie Ingham and Alex Lowe from Caulfield Grammarians, Campbell Love from Strathfieldsaye, and Kyle McLellan, Jed Rouse, James Woods and Cody Wright.

The Blues go into this campaign without Josh Taig, Tynan Hywood and Connor Logan, but are confident of been far more competitive.

The Blues’ best and fairest in 2021, Cody Stobaus, played superbly against the odds all season.

 

Maiden Gully YCW

The Wayne Mitrovic-coached Eagles marked a 4-7 record to be sixth last season.

Mitrovic has stayed on as coach of a team which battled for goals against the top four teams.

The Eagles’ leading goalkicker last season was Matt Gray, 21 goals in six games, who has now signed with North Bendigo.

Maiden Gully YCW will also be without Tori Ferguson and Travis Mercadante who have gone to Huntly.

Key players for Maiden Gully YCW include last season’s best and fairest and ruckman/forward Chris Howgate, Sam Barnes, Hamish McCartney, Josh Worsley and Steve Turner.

 

Marong

Second when last season was called off, Marong shapes as a team to be reckoned with once again.

The Linton Jacobs-coached Panthers secured the double chance for last year’s finals, a feat the club had not marked since 2004.

The Panthers recruits include Matt Willox from Learmonth and Trent Fisher from Roxburgh Park, and Ryley Taylor and Lachlan Lee also re-join a powerful squad.

Classy small forward Dylan Cuttriss who previously starred for Rochester and Colbinabbin did not play for the Panthers after round three because of injury, but has not ruled out a return to playing football.

 

Mitiamo

Major change has taken place at John Forbes Oval in Mitiamo as Marcus McKern steps up from assistant to senior coach.

McKern takes charge after the departure of co-coaches Andy Grant and Tyrone Downie who led the success in 2019 and ’21.

Assistant coach this year will be talented midfielder Ross Turner.

There have been few changes at Mitiamo, although key defender Max Simpson has moved to Anglesea.

A formidable squad includes Lee Dale, last season’s best and fairest, along with Lucas Matthews, Doug Thomas, Luke Lougoon, Tim Brooks and Ryan Wellington.

 

Newbridge

Will be desperate to improve last year’s 2-9 record and seventh place finish.

The Maroons have the first-round bye and will face Mitiamo on 9 April at Riveside Park.

Recruits include Jackson Fry from Kangaroo Flat, Paddy Andrews from South Bendigo, and Jordan Formosa after stints at Huntly, Strathfieldsaye and Heathcote.

A high for Newbridge in 2021 was the play of onballer Harry Whittle to earn the Harding Medal as the league’s fairest and best.

Whittle and Chris Dixon led the Maroons’ attack on 17 and 15 goals respectively.

Improving goalscoring power and stronger defence are a major focus for Freeman and the team.

 

Pyramid Hill

The Bulldogs had a 7-5 record last season and are likely to challenge for a top-three berth again.

A multiple premiership-winning coach of the club’s under-18s team, Nathan Fitzpatrick is sole senior coach after Adrian McErvale stepped down.

Matt Pollock is the new assistant coach.

Ins include Mitch and Steve Gunther, Liam Ly, Lars Casperson and Jack Timmins.

An attack led by Braidy Dickens, 50 goals; Bailey George, 29; and Mitch Cheesman, 22; will be a key to breaking the premiership drought.

Other key players include Matt and Brad Ladson, Jacob Heavyside, Bailey Goodwin, Gavin James and Dylan Morison.