Parrots hell bent on making amends
Will 2017 finally be Leongatha’s year? Beaten favourites in the past two Gippsland League grand finals after clearly heading the ladder at the end of the home and away rounds, the Parrots are hell bent on making amends.
This is the last year in the three-year contract of coach Beau Vernon and the players will be hell-bent on giving him the ultimate prize.
2001 was the last time Leongatha held aloft a premiership cup. The line-up will be little changed from last year. The loss of Shem Hawking is the Parrots’ most notable loss but they’ve added some more talent from clubs in their local South Gippsland region.
The Parrots will be there again at the business end of the year and it won’t be until then that the big question will be answered.
Their conquerors last year, Maffra, will be stalking again as will Traralgon because it is always around about.
Maffra is confident full forward Darren Sheen, a century goalkicker in two of his three years at the club, will return after a brief and injury restricted stint at Narre Warren.
He’d be some icing on the cake for a side that will also contain the bulk of last season’s side.
Traralgon will have two former Essendon players in its side this year.
Jay Neagle, at Traralgon Tyers United last season, will join Jason Winderlich who will be in his second season at the Maroons.
Another tall forward Jordan Sandy arrives from Gormandale and, with Neagle, will give the forward line height, something it lacked last year when it finished third.
Long serving Danny Campbell and Matt Lewellin have moved to Yinnar in the MGFL.
Warragul and Morwell shape as possible big improvers.
The Gulls took the scalps of Maffra and Traralgon in the final two rounds last year to claim a finals berth and almost snatched victory in the elimination final.
That has given the predominantly young team plenty to build on and they’ll get another quality player Tom Muir, ex-Casey in the VFL and Glenelg (SANFL), with the major downside being the likely limited availability of last year’s captain and ruckman Chris Carey.
Morwell’s recruiting sees the return of premiership players Mannon Johnston, Julian Blackford and Rob Michaelides and a number of players from Mid Gippsland league clubs.
Sale, stricken by injuries in the first half of last year, eventually only missed the finals by a whisker, Warragul’s upset of Maffra in the final round pushing the Magpies out.
There might be a few minor changes to the side this year but Sale always seem to be able to pluck out juniors that fit immediately into senior football.
Wonthaggi Power, also just missing the “five” in 2016, is confident of gaining 200cm ruckman Jesse Smith from Caulfield Grammar but is losing a number of senior list players and may struggle.
A young Moe side under playing coach James Blaser showed some terrific promise last year and should improve further.
The Lions are really reaping the rewards of its policy over recent years to attract and develop talented district juniors.
Drouin, a finalist last year and winner of the elimination final before bowing out against Traralgon, have seen the core of its side depart and will struggle.
Coach Bob McCallum, David Olsen and Darcy Irwin will be the experienced heads in a youthful side.
Bairnsdale has lost its captain and one of the league’s powerhouse players James Gibbs to Lake Entrance where he will coach and has also lost the talents and experience of Tom Hams, Wes Russell and Brett Waddell.