Gisborne ready for a new fight

BACK-TO-BACK premierships is a feat Gisborne has achieved twice in senior footy since it joined the Bendigo Bank Bendigo Football League.

The club starts the 2023 season as top dog, which it had done after the grand final triumphs of 2003 and ’03, and 2005 and ’06.

Gisborne’s reign as number one will be seriously challenged by Strathfieldsaye, Golden Square, Sandhurst, South Bendigo, and a resurgent Eaglehawk in the race for the premiership cup.

Fans of Kyneton will be roaring, particularly if the Tigers are on a winning streak.

Gisborne

Brad Fox takes charge as senior coach after a great run by Rob Waters.

A Bulldogs line-up that includes captain Pat McKenna, Nalder medallist and gun ruckman Braidon Blake, Flynn Lakey, Jack Reaper, Matt Merrett and Sam Graham will be tough to beat.

Those to have left Gisborne include Ethan Foreman to Kyneton, Josh Kemp to Aberfeldie, Ethan Minns to Woodend-Heskett, and Matt Panuccio to Riddell.

Strathfieldsaye

The Storm’s remarkable run since 2013 includes being in seven of eight grand finals and a win-loss tally of 4-3.

The Darryl Wilson and Shannon Geary-coached Storm has plenty of class and versatility.

Key inclusions include running half-back Luke Webb who was on Geelong’s list in the VFL and played at St Joseph’s as playing assistant coach.

A powerful attack is bolstered by the inclusion of Jack Exell who kicked 100 goals for Violet Town last season. Storm also regains Alex Powell after stints at Tooleybuc and Bridgewater.

A formidable Strathfieldsaye line-up includes Michelsen medallists Lachlan Sharp at full-forward, and ruck-rover Jake Moorhead.

Those to have left include Kallen Geary, a triple premiership player and Nalder medallist for best afield in the 2017 grand final, to Eaglehawk, while Fergus Payne is now an assistant coach at Inglewood and ruckman Michael Pilcher has retired, but will play a key off-field role.

Golden Square

The pain of a two-point loss in last September’s preliminary final has driven Golden Square throughout pre-season.

The Christian Carter-coached Bulldogs have kept most of last year’s squad and a massive plus is the return of tough midfielder/on-baller Tom Toma from Cohuna Kangas.

Off-field, 2001 premiership player Matt Dillon is also back at Wade Street as an assistant and he coached North Bendigo to the 2019 premiership in the Heathcote DFNL.

A multiple premiership winner, dual Nalder medallist for best afield in a grand final, and the 2018 Michelsen medallist, Jack Geary will again lead Golden Square.

The Dogs’ attack was brilliantly led by Joel Brett and Jayden Burke last season as they racked up 98 and 55 goals.

A strong squad includes ruckman Matt Compston; onballers Ryan Hartley, Ricky Monti and Terry Reeves; the hard-running and skilful Hamish Morcom and Jake Thrum; plus Jon Coe and Will Lee in defence.

Those to have transferred from Square include Jarrod Fitzpatrick to Boort; Liam Jacques to Heathcote, and Will Thrum to Cohuna Kangas.

South Bendigo

It’s a new era for South Bendigo which has made the move from Queen Elizabeth Oval to Kennington’s Harry Trott Oval.

The Nathan Horbury-coached Bloods welcome back classy small forward Steven Stroobants from Rochester.

During his time with the Tigers, Stroobants kicked 330 goals in 103 games.

He has plenty of experience from his time with Bendigo Gold in the VFL, and then later at North Melbourne and Coburg.

The return of Stroobants in the red and white was a huge coup after the shock departure of Ron Best medallist Kaiden Antonowicz to White Hills in the Heathcote DFNL.

Another key signing for the Bloods was ruckman Mac Cameron from Monash Blues.

A talented squad to represent the Bloods includes Will Allen, Zac Hare, Brock Harvey, Will Keck, Cooper Leon, Oliver Simpson, Braydan Torpey and Andrew van Heumen.

Key departures include Liam Byrne and Michael Herlihy.

Sandhurst

Stung by an elimination final loss, the Dragons marked some huge recruiting coups.

Among them is key position player Bryce Curnow as playing assistant coach.

In 2019, Curnow was the Nalder medallist as Strathfieldsaye beat Eaglehawk in the grand final and last year he played a key role in Kerang’s premiership victory in the Central Murray league.

Also back at Sandhurst are Nick Stagg and Andy Collins from Kerang and Bridgewater respectively.

A premiership winner at the Dragons and popular clubman, Stagg rejoins the likes of Michelsen medallist Lee Coghlan, Alex and Joel Wharton, ruckman Hamish Hosking, and key forward Matt Thornton.

Another key recruit is Harrison Monk while gun midfielder Lachlan Tardrew is still on Collingwood’s list in the VFL, but has re-aligned with the Dragons.

Kyneton

After missing the finals on percentage after a 10-8 run to be sixth in 2022, the Paul Chapman-coached Kyneton looms as a threat to climb into the five.

A previous winner of the club’s goalkicking award, the classy Ethan Foreman is back in the yellow and black after premiership success at Gisborne.

Although he battled hamstring issues last season, Foreman’s skill and experience is a massive plus for the Tigers.

Kyneton has also gained another talented small forward in Thomas Quinn from the VAFA, but will be without the brilliant Rhys Magin who went to the Sunbury Kangaroos and Guy Dickson who departed for Leongatha.

Eaglehawk

The return of the Geary brothers, Jarryn and Kallen has generated plenty of excitement as Eaglehawk strives to fly from seventh position.

After a 207-game career with St Kilda, Jarryn Geary’s play across half-back or any other role decided by coach Travis Matheson is a massive plus for the Two Blues and the league.

Geary’s courage will inspire all team-mates.

Another key signing for the Borough was ruckman Connor Dalgleish from Montmorency.

Other players listed on the transfer list to Eaglehawk included Ryan Wellington from Mitiamo, and Jack Daley and Jacob Greenwood from Calivil United.

Departures from Eaglehawk include Shaun Knott to Westmeadows, and Sean Williams to Rochester.

Kangaroo Flat

A 14th year in coaching for Nathan Johns is likely to be one of his most challenging as he takes charge at Kangaroo Flat.

Key signings for the Roos were tall defenders Jordan and Zac Rouse to join what will be an extremely young team.

Those to impress in the pre-season clash with Tongala included Jack Barras, Nick Keogh and Jade Mayes.

Long-time number one ruckman and captain Nick Lang has made the move from the Roos to be a Blue with Kerang.

Others to have left Dower Park include Brodie and Jackson Fry and Lachlan Wilson to Huntly, Max Johnson to Lockington-Bamawm, and Mitch Rovers to Mount Pleasant.

Key cogs in Flat’s squad include Liam and Mitch Collins, Ryan O’Keefe, Ethan Roberts and Dane Spear.

Castlemaine

A premiership winner as a teenager with Castlemaine in 2000, Brendan Shepherd returns to Camp Reserve as senior coach.

The Magpies re-appointed Brodie Martin as senior assistant coach, while Jackson Hood tackles a new role as playing assistant coach.

Signings for the Pies included Lloyd Butcher from Waverley Blues, Tom Wilson from Marong, and David Wilson after stints at Harcourt and Maldon.

Key players for Castlemaine include Bailey Henderson, Liam Wilkinson, David Stephens, Brad Keogh, and Brodie and Jackson Byrne.

Maryborough

Coby Perry steps up to be playing coach at Maryborough as the club strives to hit back from a winless season.

A coup for Maryborough was the signing of Joel Swatton from South Bendigo to play in the midfield and also be strength and conditioning coach.

The Magpies also regain gun onballer and previous best and fairest winner in Bailey Edwards.

Based in Darwin, Edwards played the latest Northern Territory FL season with Nightcliff and was among Carisbrook’s best as it finished runner-up to Harcourt in last year’s Maryborough Castlemaine District FNL senior grand final.

Players on the transfer list to the Magpies included Darcy Bond, Sam Flynn, Brodie Quinlan, and James Woods.

The Pies will be without talented on-baller Aidan Hare who has headed west from Princes Park to Peel Thunder.

Action in the 2023 Bendigo Football Netball League season gets underway on Saturday, 15 April.