Opportunity awaits
It was simply just another big year of footy for Southern Mallee Giants last season. But who’s counting?
The Beulah-hopetoun combine, a flagship representative outfit for a large regional area, predictably for many, made it to the grand final in its first year in Wimmera league.
Apart from actually winning a season overall, you couldn’t expect to do much better than that, especially in a debut year.
Now, with Wimmera teams having a good idea about what makes the Giants tick, the big question is for how long or whether this group can continue its fairytale story of success?
The team had a rare major stumble against eventual premier Horsham in the season finale last year, and all eyes this season will be looking north to see what the orange force has in store.
Like some other pace-setting clubs, the Giants have been the subject of considerable pre-season speculation based on the loss of senior players.
The confirmed departures of Brock Orval, Jackson and Toby Fisher, Nick O’farrell, Jack Landrigan and Andy Phelan have had plenty of tongues wagging about what it might all mean for the Giants.
But if it was something worrying coach Coleman Schache, leading the Giants into Wimmera league in a second season at the helm, it was far from obvious.
Schache said he was looking forward to the approaching season and excited to see how players responded when confronted with a fresh challenge.
“We’ve definitely lost some quality players who are also top blokes, but to be honest, I’m excited to see how others can step up a gear,” he said.
“We’re seeing it as a bit of motivation. It puts ownership back on other players who have to seize the opportunity.
“Our pre-season has been good. We have some younger ones coming through and it’s been enjoyable to have them on the track.”
A newcomer to the team this year is midsized running player Blake Marshall who played with Modbury in Adelaide.
“He’s been good on the track, looks quick and finds the footy. He’s also fitted in well,” Schache said.
“We’re also working on another recruit we can hopefully get over the line.”
Schache, who will have Dale Shannon on the bench as his assistant, said young players such as Ben Mcgee and Connor Mccredden had also shown good signs in practice-match conditions and Sam Weddell hadn’t missed a beat since returning from Darwin football.
The Giants have had practice matches against Ballarat outfit Sebastopol and Sea Lake-nandaly Tigers.
“Our game against Sebastopol was a solid hit-out,” Schache said.
“We were a bit light on for numbers but I was happy with the guys and their fitness levels.
“The main thing from practice matches is to gain a bit of match fitness and identify holes we need to work on.
“We will continue with our running game.
“We learnt a lot in our first year in Wimmera league and why on occasions some clubs got on top of us.
“Yes it’s been a learning curve and it has only made everyone better players.”
Schache said he hadn’t thought too much about where the Giants might or should finish this season.
“Hopefully we can enjoy success, have an impact again and make the most from every opportunity,” he said.
“We’re just trying to train as hard and as well as we can so we can play our best footy.
“Hopefully we can hit our best at the right time of the year. If that’s good enough to get us into the finals, we’ll go from there.
“We love the challenge of Wimmera league. Every single week, it doesn’t matter who we’re playing – it’s hard, competitive footy and it’s motivating.
“We’re all excited in having another crack.”
The Giants, despite obvious potency at senior level, will again have to wait at least another year to field an under-17 team.
The club has a promising under-14 squad.