EUROA MAGPIES
Optimism.
That is the feeling among players and coaches at Euroa heading into the 2022 Goulburn Valley League season, as it looks to break its 22-year premiership drought and finally bring the title back to Memorial Oval.
Well and truly in the hunt for the flag before COVID-19 spelt a premature end to the 2021 season, all signs point to a team capable of improving on its 9–2 record, with the continued development of its young list and some marquee signings sure to have Magpies fans salivating.
Highlighting the list of additions is former Adelaide and St Kilda ruckman Paul Hunter, who, while also aligned with Port Melbourne in the VFL, will bolster the Magpies’ already plentiful ruck stocks of Andrew Smith and Jacob Brereton.
Former Western Bulldogs midfielder Will Hayes will also make a return to his hometown Magpies, forming a tantalising duo with brother JD that will without doubt thrill crowds across the Goulburn Valley.
Along with these new additions, Euroa has also been able to lock away a number of its existing stars, with the likes of ultra-consistent Jack Hellier, spearhead Tristan Davies and livewire Ben Giobbi set to don the black and white again.
Coach Scott Rowan, who will embark on his third year in charge at Memorial Oval, said spirits were high as the season approaches.
“There is some excitement around because realistically we are pretty sure we will have a good season and our squad is very much the same, so we are really looking forward to getting started,” Rowan said.
“I’m very confident in what the group can achieve this year, we started last season with 11 injuries on our senior list, so at the beginning it was just about getting everyone back, before we really started to hit our stride heading into the finals.
“I see no reason why we can’t contend strongly again and am excited to see the boys continue to improve.”
With numbers strong and intensity high on the track, Rowan highlighted a couple of boys he believed would take their game to the next level.
“I think our key forwards in Tristan Davies and Erish
Uthayakumar have had great pre-seasons after a good first season last year,” he said.
“Nate Trotter and Jacob Gleeson are also moving quite well which is exciting to see, while Ben Bath is one, I’m expecting to have a real breakthrough year.”
Player retention has been a highlight of the Magpies’ off-season, with Tom Pannuccio’s departure to Geelong’s VFL set-up the only major omission from Rowan’s 2021 squad.
He said having such a settled list would pay dividends as he looks to expand upon the eye-catching brand of football that thrilled supporters last season.
“I think we will just play our attacking brand of footy that we have been trying to develop over the past couple of years,” he said.
“We were easily the league’s highest-scoring side last year, so we know we can put points on the board, the challenge is just to tighten up a bit in defence as we hope to get that blend right and have a great season.”
I see no reason why we can’t contend strongly again and am excited to see the boys continue to improve. – SCOTT ROWAN, COACH