I spent an hour or so with Metty SELMAN and Darren HALL at Princess Park on Tuesday 30th March for a photo shoot to promote the Round 3 Blue Ribbon Game between the Cats and the Swans. I can't help but feel that maybe I was with the Presidents of the clubs who just might be playing for the Twenty Ten senior flag. What do you think? Anyway that is 24 weeks and 3 days away and we are still 30 hours or so away from the bounce of the ball for the senior season to commence. Our season kicks off this Friday, Good Friday, 2nd April 2010. The Kyabram Bombers who were runners-up to Mansfield last year host the Tigers from Rochester. Likewise, on Friday, Shepparton host the Shepparton Swans. At both venues, the Under 18's are listed to start at 3pm, the Reserves at 5pm and the Seniors at 7pm. On Saturday 3rd April, the reigning Premiers Mansfield unfurl the flag at home before they take on Shepparton United, Echuca are at home to Seymour, Mooroopna take on Euroa and Benalla are at home to the Tatura Bulldogs. The games at Benalla are due to start at 3pm, 5pm & 7pm.
There is a real sense of excitement around the GVFL for this year with the quality of recruits coming into our League plus there is a feel of urgency around the Interleague game v the Ovens & Murray after Round 6 because at worst, if we were defeated, we could be relegated - we are told that the O & M standard might have dropped off a bit this year whereas on the other hand surely our League must rise dramatically in standard. There is talk that if all our recruits were available and genuinely wanted to play then we are going to be pretty damn good!
At Deakin Reserve, the Swans could be rolling out the big guns in Russell ROBERTSON, Nathan BROWN & Adem YZE along with Matthew PATANE from Roxburgh Park, Luke JARJOURA from all over the place, big Brodie A'VARD from the Bushrangers via Jerilderie and Tim LOOBY back after a year at Aberfeldie in the strong Essendon & District League. However, do not write the Bears off, they will champing at the bit to have a red hot go with a fully fit Marc HARRAP plus the return to quality players in Sean HARRAP, Brodie JACQUES, Paul KENNELLY and Jarrod MASKELL. For the sake of a tip, Swans!
At Kyabram last year when the Bombers hosted the Tigers, played under lights before a bumper crowd, Rochester played their best footy for the year and smashed Ky. Whether they can repeat this performance we don't know yet. Both sides have quality players and this really could be the match of the round. Your tipster favours Bombers but not by much.
In the day games on Saturday, Mansfield unfurl their 2009 flag before they take on the much rejuvinated Shepparton United. There are some thoughts that the Eagles may be a little bit weakened from last year with a few clearanves out and not a real lot of clearances in. The Demons however have recruited exceptionally well with former Rochester premiership player Nathan GEMMILL coming to United with former Nathalia team-mate Mattie DAVIES plus team-mates of both boys while up in Brisbane, namely Jason EAGLE, Shaun HUY and Daniel BRIFFA. Add the return of Ryan NORMINGTON from Werribee and we should have a ripper up at Mansfield. Your tipsters favours United as they will be busting for a win having had two very close losses to the Wangaratta Rovers and Northcote Park in recent weeks whereas the Eagles got defeated pretty easily by the powerful Northern League (Melbourne) premiers Heidelberg just last week-end.
Echuca host the Seymour Lions and like the Swans, United and Mooroopna, will be busting to get into the action and unveil their top-flight recruits. The Murray Bombers should be too strong for the Lions who will sorely miss Saad SAAD, Paul SCANLON and Jake ANDERSON.
Talk about a club who is busting at the seems to get into the fray - their is a real excitement at Cat Land - Mooroopna have also recruited exceptionally well with perhaps the best big man outside the A.F.L. in Michael GAY donning the blue and white hoops after winning Best & Fairest at Heidelberg in their Premiership sides. Michael comes up here with a mate who too has won B & F's with the Northern F.L. Tigers. Mooroopna could be running out with up to 7 recruits from both sides of Melbourne plus the return of Dan COLLYER. On their beautiful oval the Cats should easily account for Euroa.
We have not heard too much from the Benalla Saints over the summer, for that matter not much from the kennell over at Tatura either. Going on last year's performances the Tatura Bulldogs should win comfortably.
We will know more next week when we can have a look at this week-ends results plus being able to see the selected teams before the games are played. Anyway, that is not a grizzle because the country side is looking a real treat. The ground over at Ky looked an absoulte picture early in the week, Mooroopna is magnificent, Deakin arguably the best it has ever been, Benalla's oval is as pretty as a rose garden and up here in the High Country at Mansfield the ground has a terrific cover and the weather is gorgeous.
With the country the way it is at the moment, the weather great and a long Easter week-end and the footy back, what else could a person wish for? Until Round two, take care on the roads - DO NOT drink & drive - let's hope you will be at the footy next week-end
Last Modified on 26/07/2010 20:37