New league structure brings sense of excitement
The Ellinbank District Football League season will begin onSaturday, April 8, bring with it a newfound sense of excitement.
Following the departure of the some of the stronger west end clubs to the new West Gippsland Football Competition, several clubs enter the 2017 season with optimism.
Clubs have recruited well and could trouble the likes of Neerim-Neerim South and Nilma-Darnum, who were able to take it to their opponents and play finals in last season’s 15 club competition.
Buln Buln
Last season: 8th Coach: Matt Gray In: James Taylor (Trafalgar), Adam Steenholdt (WAFL), Tood Hall (Yarragon)
Out: Josh O’Brien (Warragul Industrials), Dylan Farrell (Moe)
Having set a solid foundation last season, youth should again feature prominently in Buln Buln’s side.
While the return of James Taylor and Trent Baker will add experience, it will be the development of its youth that will drive improvement for the Lyrebirds.
With Dylan Farrell departing for Moe, coach Matt Gray will need to again shoulder the majority of the rucking duties.
Catani
Last season: 11th Coach: Paul Alger In: Dale Johnson (Doveton), Aiden Cuff (Inverloch-Kongwak), Paul Pattison (Casey) Out: Tom Keily (England) Former Doveton and Bairnsdale utility Dale Johnson headlines the recruits at Catani, who will aim to push towards finals football in the re-structured league.
The Blues have maintained a solid player base with Tom Keily, who is heading to England to play cricket, the only departure.
Midfielder Nathaniel Rodda has the team fitter than ever following a gruelling pre-season.
Key forward Ryan Eaton and veteran Antonio Benvenuto will be other players key to the Blues’ chances.
Ellinbank
Last season: 14th Coach: Ben Wragg In: Ben Wragg, Lachlan Cove, James Black (Yarra Junction), Keegan Bott (Drouin), Daniel Pratt (University Blues), Andrew Quirk (Bunyip), Ryan Carpenter (Rosedale), Tim Mashado, Jackson, Ben and Cameron Parker (Narre Warren) Out: Ethan Davey (Drouin) Ellinbank will take to the field with a new look team under new coach Ben Wragg.
A swag of recruits and returning players comes as a significant boost for the club, who would be eyeing off a return to finals football.
The recruits should complement the talented youth developed through the club’s junior program.
Shaun Phelan should have another strong season, while leading goal kicker MattBarrand should be dangerous with better supply.
Extensive upgrades to the club’s facilities will be officially opened during its first home game.
Lang Lang
Last season: 13th Coach: Clint Evans In: Rohan Bleeker (Frankston YCW), Anthony Joel (Karingal), Josh Brown (Catani), Cameron Brown (Tooradin-Dalmore), Jordan Bates, Aaron Creasey (Pakenham)
Out: Felix Dunn (Rosebud), Wayne Groves, Travis Reints (Frankston Bombers)
Lang Lang has struggled in recent seasons but could be a dark horse, with several recruits walking through the door.
The club enters the 2017 season with some confidence following a strong pre-season under new coach Clint Evans, who has been setting high standards.
The Tigers may be missing Sean Dwyer, who has been trialling for VFL side Casey.
Off field, new president Norm Lansdown has been setting the direction, with the Tigers set to field a side at under 18 level.
Longwarry
Last season: 12th Coach: Daniel Fry In: Jack Anning, Daniel Fry, Nathan Fry (Pakenham), Riley Rundell (Warragul Industrials)
Out: Geordie Fyfe (Officer), Brody Hamilton, Chris Karlis (Yarragon), Jesse Davies (Narre Warren), Dylan Holland (Warragul Industrials)
Longwarry will be hoping to climb the ladder under highy regarded coach Daniel Fry.
While some senior players have left the club, Fry has recruited well from Pakenham to adequately replace them.
A focus of recruiting has been the spine, with the Crows adding key position players.
The Crows have bounded back in its junior ranks nicely, set to field teams at under 16 and under 18 level following a successful registration day.
Neerim-Neerim South
Last season: 4th Coach: Allan Chandler In: Allan Chandler (Churchill) Out: Tom Muir (Warragul), Jack Griffiths (WAFL)
Neerim-Neerim South has played finals for the past two seasons and will be hoping to break through under new coach Allan Chandler.
Having exited season 2016 finals in straight sets, the Cats will be hoping to be a threat under the successful coach.
On the back of that recent form, the Cats will enter the season as one of the flag favourites, but with many clubs recruiting strongly they will still have their work cut out for them.
Nilma-Darnum
Last season: 5th Coach: Dean Alger In: Jarrod Price (Pines) Out: Michael Bridgman (HillEnd), Shaun White (Pines)
Nilma-Darnum will be looking to carry on the momentum from playing finals football last year.
Having matched it with some of the league heavyweights at various stages last season, the Bombers will enter the 2017 season in the new-look league high on confidence.
Aside from ruckman Michael Bridgman and Shaun White, who has returned to Pines, the Bombers have retained most of the talented recruits they had last year and are ready to make an assault on the season.
Nyora
Last season: 8th Coach: Fia Tootoo In: Adam Tagliaferro, Ilan Osman (Thorpdale), Mitchell Cochrane, Kallan Rigby (Kilcunda-Bass)
Out: Phillip Webster (Tooradin-Dalmore), Troy McPherson (Lang Lang)
Nyora have added a quartet of key players as they aim to continue their improvement.
The Saints were competitive in patches last season, and will aim to build on that this season.
Having won eight games last year, the Saints will aim to push up the ladder in the new-look EDFL competition.
Pre-season training numbers have been strong under new coach Fia Tootoo.
Poowong
Last season: 15th Coach: Mick Hawken In: Mick Hawken, Mitchell Bond, Chris and Alex Doria, Jack Hazendonk, Craig Thorne (Devon Meadows), Joseph Bisognin (Tooradin-Dalmore) Out: None of note Poowong will again field a young side, but are set to be bolstered by the inclusion of several recruits from Devon Meadows.
They come to the club having followed new coack Mick Hawken.
Having been starved of success in recent season, Magpies faithful would be well aware success will take time.
Young gun Josh Chiavaroli is coming off a best and fairest, and will be among the youth that the club will hope for further development.
The club hopes to win up to three games this season.
Warragul Industrials
Last season: 7th Coach: Josh O’Brien In: Josh O’Brien: (Buln Buln), Dylan Holland (Longwarry), Josh Seri (Drouin)
Out: Jason Wells (Kilcunda Bass), Daniel Johnson, Dean Johnson (Garfield), Michael Lynn (Warragul)
Having miised finals after high hopes in season 2016, Warragul Industrials will aim to bounce back thsi season.
While Josh O’Brien takes the reins, Shane Brewster will remain a key player at the club.
Anumber of core players have stayed at the club in pursuit of premiership glory.
The likes of Corey Nickels will have to step up in front of goal, with the enigmatic Jason Wells departing for Kilcunda Bass.
Preparations included a hit out against fellow Western Park tennant Warragul on Saturday.