Newcomers keen to have impact

FOUR new coaches and another returning to his former club will aim to mark a successful run in this season’s footy action across the Bendigo Bank Loddon Valley Football Netball League.

There is also stability among last year’s top five teams of which four re-appointed coaches.

Marong

Marong’s Linton Jacobs starts a new challenge as the Panthers pursue back-to-back premierships starting this Saturday under the Marist College Oval lights in Maiden Gully.

The Panthers marked a brilliant run to win last year’s senior, reserves and under-18s grand finals.

Marong has held most of its premiership-winning team and also recruited ruckman Michael Bradbury from Quambatook, and key position player Matt Riordan from Colbinabbin.

After a great run at Mitiamo, Matt Grant also returns to Marong.

A powerful Panthers attack is led by Brandyn Grenfell who kicked a league record 154 goals last season, and Kain Robins, a premiership-winning star and Michelsen medallist in his time with Eaglehawk.

Other key players in Marong’s run to mark a third LVFNL senior footy premiership for a third time after the success of 1989 and 2022 include Nathan Devanny, Ben and Corey Gregg, Jimmy Gadsden, Ryley Taylor, and Richard Tibbett.

Bridgewater

The agony of grand final defeat, no matter the margin, always burns.

It will be a driving force for the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater as it fights to go one better this year.

Key forward Josh Martyn will again play a key role, along with Harry Donegan, Callum Prest, Emile Pavlich and Zane Hoiles.

Recruits to Bridgewater include Austin Alcock and Charlton Hindle.

The Mean Machine is without the skilful Andy Collins, a mid-forward who played AFL with Richmond and Carlton as he has returned to Sandhurst in the Bendigo FNL.

Pyramid Hill

It’s been 72 years since Pyramid Hill won a senior premiership.

The Bulldogs have been a serious contender in recent years, but are yet to claim the silverware.

Nathan Fitzpatrick starts another season in charge at Mitchell Park.

Newcomers for the Bulldogs include Declan Slingo from Castlemaine, and Jesse Sheahan from South Bendigo.

The Bulldogs also welcome back Zac Alford, a premiership winner with North Bendigo in 2019, and Jaryd Wishart.

Those on the transfer list to Pyramid Hill included Jayson and Lachlan Carroll, Lachlan Dillon, Dylan Goulding, Darcy and Thomas Hetherington, Trent Leech and Tom McGregor.

A high for the Bulldogs at the end of last season was Billy Micevski being presented with the Harding Medal as league fairest and best.

A blow for the Bulldogs in the lead-up to this season was the departure of gun forward Braidy Dickens to Huntly.

Dickens kicked 70 goals for Pyramid Hill in the 2019 season.

Mitiamo

Mitiamo has a new coach in Jon Varcoe and welcomes back 2019 premiership player Dylan Clohesy to the fold at John Forbes Oval.

A key signing for Mitiamo is former Box Hill Hawks midfielder Michael Barnes.

Other new faces in the Superoos line-up include Mitchell and Ryan Byrne, Tom Campbell, Halen Danziger, Kobe Galvin, Lincon Hocking, Liam Jones, Zachary Morrison, Duncan Proud, Ashley Smith, Rhys Varcoe, and Daniel Walters.

The skiful Harry McCormick has made his way from Mitiamo to play for the Huntly Hawks.

Key forward Ryan Wellington is on the transfer list to Eaglehawk.

Bears Lagoon-Serpentine

The Justin Laird-coached Bears Lagoon-Serpentine will be striving to climb higher than last year’s fifth placing.

Key signings for BLS were Callum Draper from Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat’s Louis Mott, and defender Kyal Zass from Eaglehawk.

The Bears will be without hard-running defender Josh Walsh who has taken on an assistant coaching role at Wycheproof Narraport.

Also on the transfer list to Serpentine were Clay and Taylor Anstee, Thomas Clarke, Charles and Craig Davies, Orion Downing, Sean Hanson, Nash Kemp, and Kevin Walton.

Maiden Gully

Jay McDonald marks his first match as Maiden Gully YCW’s first coach against Marong on the Eagles’ turf under lights at Marist College Oval.

After a successful stint at Huntly in the Heathcote DFNL, McDonald steps up to lead the Eagles.

Assistant coach will be Damian Wust who joined the Eagles midway through last season.

Wust has plenty of experience from stints at Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat.

The Eagles won four of their last seven matches in 2022 and will be determined to start strongly.

Recruits to Maiden Gully YCW include former Eaglehawk and Huntly player Tyler Miles, key forward Sam Harvey, Bryce Franzini from Kangaroo Flat, and Kyle Franzini from Kerang.

Others on the transfer list to the Eagles included Riley Bacon, Jett Beagley, Mana Clark, Thomas Durston, Jax Noonan and Ryan Sarkady.

Those to have left Maiden Gully YCW include Brayden Aitken, Natnael McLaren and Dale Cameron to Boort.

Calivil United

In his previous coaching stint at Calivil United, Anthony Dennis led the Demons to premiership victory in 2017.

After just two wins in 2022, Calivil United will be fired up.

A key signing was premiership ruckman Justin Hynes from Marong.

The Demons also welcome back Henry Miller, and have Jack Maher and Thomas Piazza among the newcomers.

Those who have left Calivil include Jack Daley and Jacob Greenwood to Eaglehawk, and Ben Daley to Huntly.

Newbridge

It’s a tandem coaching set-up at Newbridge through Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing.

Both have achieved great success at Harcourt in the Maryborough Castlemaine competition.

Smith coached the Lions to back-to-back premierships in 2006 and ’07.

Key recruits for the Maroons include Angus Fortune, Matt Giri, Ryan Hipworth, David Romer from Kangaroo Flat, and Dylan Stevens.

Newbridge has also signed key position player Will Copland, who could also be used in the ruck, from Kangaroo Flat.

The Maroons will again look for strong performances from the likes of Chris Dixon who kicked 35 goals last season, plus Caleb Argus, Tyler McLeod and Dylan Lloyd.

The Maroons will be without Harding medallist Harry Whittle who has returned to Huntly as a co-coach; as well as Ryan Burt at Huntly, and Mitch Hocking to Corio Community Sports Club.

Because of works at Riverside Park, Newbridge’s home games in rounds one and three have been moved.

The Maroons kick off the season at Calivil against the Demons, and will then travel to Marong’s Malone Park for the third round clash.

After a brilliant start in which it was 3-1 after four matches last season, Inglewood then endured another tough run.

Inglewood

Darrell Billett is again in charge of a young Blues squad which has gained Fergus Payne from Strathfieldsaye Storm as playing assistant coach.

Players on the transfer list to the Blues included Sam Dorevitch, Darcy Hogan from Noradjua-Quantong and Strathfieldsaye, Harry Moore from Wycheproof-Narraport, Jack Lovett, Callum March, Cameron Martin, Keelan Payne, and Nick Silvestro.

Bregon Cotchett, Charlie Ingham, Charlie McGaw, Luke Matheson and Cody Wright will all play crucial roles in the Blues’ drive to be even better in ’23 and beyond.