Marong\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
The Panthers marked a brilliant run to win last year\u2019s senior, reserves and under-18s grand finals.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
After a great run at Mitiamo, Matt Grant also returns to Marong.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Other key players in Marong\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Bridgewater<\/strong><\/p>\n The agony of grand final defeat, no matter the margin, always burns.<\/p>\n It will be a driving force for the Rick Ladson-coached Bridgewater as it fights to go one better this year.<\/p>\n Key forward Josh Martyn will again play a key role, along with Harry Donegan, Callum Prest, Emile Pavlich and Zane Hoiles.<\/p>\n Recruits to Bridgewater include Austin Alcock and Charlton Hindle.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Pyramid Hill<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s been 72 years since Pyramid Hill won a senior premiership.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs have been a serious contender in recent years, but are yet to claim the silverware.<\/p>\n Nathan Fitzpatrick starts another season in charge at Mitchell Park.<\/p>\n Newcomers for the Bulldogs include Declan Slingo from Castlemaine, and Jesse Sheahan from South Bendigo.<\/p>\n The Bulldogs also welcome back Zac Alford, a premiership winner with North Bendigo in 2019, and Jaryd Wishart.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n A blow for the Bulldogs in the lead-up to this season was the departure of gun forward Braidy Dickens to Huntly.<\/p>\n Dickens kicked 70 goals for Pyramid Hill in the 2019 season.<\/p>\n Mitiamo<\/strong><\/p>\n Mitiamo has a new coach in Jon Varcoe and welcomes back 2019 premiership player Dylan Clohesy to the fold at John Forbes Oval.<\/p>\n A key signing for Mitiamo is former Box Hill Hawks midfielder Michael Barnes.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The skiful Harry McCormick has made his way from Mitiamo to play for the Huntly Hawks.<\/p>\n Key forward Ryan Wellington is on the transfer list to Eaglehawk.<\/p>\n Bears Lagoon-Serpentine<\/strong><\/p>\n The Justin Laird-coached Bears Lagoon-Serpentine will be striving to climb higher than last year\u2019s fifth placing.<\/p>\n Key signings for BLS were Callum Draper from Golden Square, Kangaroo Flat\u2019s Louis Mott, and defender Kyal Zass from Eaglehawk.<\/p>\n The Bears will be without hard-running defender Josh Walsh who has taken on an assistant coaching role at Wycheproof Narraport.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Maiden Gully<\/strong><\/p>\n Jay McDonald marks his first match as Maiden Gully YCW\u2019s first coach against Marong on the Eagles\u2019 turf under lights at Marist College Oval.<\/p>\n After a successful stint at Huntly in the Heathcote DFNL, McDonald steps up to lead the Eagles.<\/p>\n Assistant coach will be Damian Wust who joined the Eagles midway through last season.<\/p>\n Wust has plenty of experience from stints at Eaglehawk and Kangaroo Flat.<\/p>\n The Eagles won four of their last seven matches in 2022 and will be determined to start strongly.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Others on the transfer list to the Eagles included Riley Bacon, Jett Beagley, Mana Clark, Thomas Durston, Jax Noonan and Ryan Sarkady.<\/p>\n Those to have left Maiden Gully YCW include Brayden Aitken, Natnael McLaren and Dale Cameron to Boort.<\/p>\n Calivil United<\/strong><\/p>\n In his previous coaching stint at Calivil United, Anthony Dennis led the Demons to premiership victory in 2017.<\/p>\n After just two wins in 2022, Calivil United will be fired up.<\/p>\n A key signing was premiership ruckman Justin Hynes from Marong.<\/p>\n The Demons also welcome back Henry Miller, and have Jack Maher and Thomas Piazza among the newcomers.<\/p>\n Those who have left Calivil include Jack Daley and Jacob Greenwood to Eaglehawk, and Ben Daley to Huntly.<\/p>\n Newbridge<\/strong><\/p>\n It\u2019s a tandem coaching set-up at Newbridge through Sam Gale, playing, and Daniel Smith, non-playing.<\/p>\n Both have achieved great success at Harcourt in the Maryborough Castlemaine competition.<\/p>\n Smith coached the Lions to back-to-back premierships in 2006 and \u201907.<\/p>\n Key recruits for the Maroons include Angus Fortune, Matt Giri, Ryan Hipworth, David Romer from Kangaroo Flat, and Dylan Stevens.<\/p>\n Newbridge has also signed key position player Will Copland, who could also be used in the ruck, from Kangaroo Flat.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Because of works at Riverside Park, Newbridge\u2019s home games in rounds one and three have been moved.<\/p>\n The Maroons kick off the season at Calivil against the Demons, and will then travel to Marong\u2019s Malone Park for the third round clash.<\/p>\n After a brilliant start in which it was 3-1 after four matches last season, Inglewood then endured another tough run.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/IMG_3312-scaled-e1680165575164-300x200.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/static.timesnewsgroup.com.au\/prod\/uploads\/sites\/25\/2023\/03\/PDW_6603-scaled-e1680165732230-300x200.jpg\")