by Jim Gordon
If 2011 was a stellar year for the Mallee Football League with great crowd numbers, fantastic finals footy action and an Interleague win that will go down in bush folklore, 2012 promises to be even better. Bumper harvests, deep pocketed sponsors and locals eager for on field success has meant that once again all the talk has been over recruitment as Clubs try to match it with the recent success of glamour teams Ouyen United and Beulah.
Club officials are offering highly prized recruits big incentives to play in the MFL putting pressure not only on local Clubs, but also on surrounding leagues in the battle to snap up the best talent possible. Clubs may like to pretend that they are offering little more than a bag of chips and a can of coke to players who are coming from far and wide, but the supporters know better and will be expecting a high quality of football this season.
Reigning premiers Ouyen United have had a high turnover of personnel. Brad Vallance is travelling overseas, Sonny Lindsay has gone to the Millewa League, Brett Knowles is having major knee reconstruction, Craig Deckert has retired, Andrew Jardine and Marc Hahnel have moved on to Red Cliffs in the Sunraysia League.
In an effort to balance these huge losses, the Demons have recruited strong marking, long kicking Troy Moncur who will probably play up forward and with him also from Robinvale, comes ball-magnet John Jackson. All eyes will be on Mitchell Taylor recruited from Wanderers in Darwin. Taylor is a tall, quick and exciting player with explosive pace who plays at centre half back. United have regained Ben McCleary who should be available this year after an injury-plagued 2011.
Walpeup Underbool has been active over summer in a determination to get back to their premiership successes of 2007 and 2008. Jeremy Rowe is returning as coach with Luke Nathan his deputy. Wade Champion will line up once again with the Roos and is looking bigger and fitter than he was last season. Josh Charles has returned after a three year absence and should make a huge impact in the ruck.
Other players to have committed to the Roos are former West Adelaide captain and strong onballer David Piasente, Chris Chubb is a former West Adelaide Best and Fairest who should make an impact across half back and Josh Stone has returned looking as fit as could be after a stint with Tooleybuc Manangatang. Player numbers are looking pretty good at Walpeup Underbool for this time of year and their supporters will have a final chance to see the Roos’ prospects at a practice match against Murrayville next Saturday, the 31st of March.
The big news for the Hopetoun Devils is that the brilliant Kain Robins stays on as joint coach with Luke Carr from Taylors Lake. Carr has been at Taylors Lake the last two seasons and with the dominant Horsham Demons before that and he brings a wealth of experience into the side which will no doubt help the younger players on the Hopetoun list. Also recruited from Taylors Lake is Deek Roberts, a classy small forward who loves to kick a goal and was Runner Up in the Horsham District League Best & Fairest last season.
From Bridgewater, Hopetoun has secured the services of the strong onballer Anthony Baker, a Premiership player last season and another league Runner Up Best & Fairest, this time in the Loddon Valley Football League. Ex locals Liam Price and Darcy Renkin have committed to the Devils this season. They played together last year at Carngham/Linton in the Central Highlands Football League and will be welcome additions to the Devils’ line-up.
Hopetoun are working hard to go deeper into the finals this year. Their recruiting committee has gone all out to keep last year’s list together and have been successful in retaining both Chris and Scott Heath and local Zac Robins who will travel home each week from University commitments in Ballarat.
The Devils have lost Luke Milroy and Nathan Fitzgerald to Mitiamo, Ruben Vesikuru has returned to Birchip/Watchem, Tom Pridgeon is with VFL side Sandringham, but may play some games with Hopetoun and Leigh Hutchinson who has moved from the area. Zac Taggert will be a week to week prospect as he has work commitments in Melbourne.
A big name new player for Jeparit Rainbow in 2012 is Sean Beyzan. This 29 year old midfielder/half back joins the Lakers from Birdwood in South Australia. Previously Sean has played for Nhill and represented the Wimmera in Interleague competition during his time there. He has also represented the Capricornia League in Queensland.
Aaron Beer is a midfielder/half forward from Nhill who represented the Wimmera Football League last year and James Phillip is a key forward also from Nhill.
Corey Waldron from the midfield and Daniel Greig a key defender/forward are the main losses for a Jeparit Rainbow team that will once again be an inexperienced side relying on young players some of whom had senior experience last year. The Lakers are hoping that the likes of Nathan Cocks, Tom Clugston and Brett Jenz will take the next step and become regular senior players after being blooded last year.
Will the Beulah Blues bounce back after a dismal showing in the finals last year following on from a brilliant flag winning 2010? There are certainly good signs that they could as they have lots of depth, they are a well supported club able to draw on some very strong local families and they have a stable club environment.
New President Tony "Snow" George is looking forward to the season with Scott Smith in his third season as Senior Coach with a premiership in 2010. Local boys Dale Shannon and Gareth Hose will be his assistants. Lee McKenzie is coaching the seconds and Jeremy Hose the U16's.
The Beulah Blues look like having a team similar to last year. They have lost three quality players, but in their place they have recruited three others with solid football pedigrees. Luke Spasic an onballer/winger is coming from Horsham Football Club, Lucas Smith an onballer/forward from Laharum and Eddie Keenan, brother of Beulah forward David King, is coming from West Adelaide
Beulah is losing Garry Hallam who is going to St Michaels Horsham, Adam Carter to Kalkee and Peter Lehmann is retiring.
The Sea Lake/Nandaly Tigers had a fantastic run in the finals in 2011 only to fall at the final hurdle. Big high marking forward Jarrod Arentz will be taking over the reins from the Interleague winning coach Colin Durie. An exceptional preseason training program coordinated by senior coaches Jarrod Arentz, Joe Summerhayes and Darcy Ryan has made the Tigers keen for when the real stuff begins against Hopetoun on April 14. The Preseason Camp at Nyah was a great success after a solid hit out against Tyntynder on the Friday night before. There is also a Practice Match at Boort on March 24 which will include juniors, reserves and seniors as the Tigers get ready to go one better in 2012.
New coaches for Woomelang Lascelles this season are last year’s Best and Fairest Runnerup Jason Kreuger along with Aaron Lonergan, brother of Jayden Lonergan. New players include Chris Lee, brother of Clayton Lee from Red Cliffs, Ryan Merit, a quick, high leaping wingman from Nyah West, Nathan Sydes a quick running rover, Trent Donnan returning from Pioneers and Darcy Coburn, brother of Rohan, a strong, straight running player.
The Woomelang Lascelles Cats have had great numbers at training over the autumn months, averaging just on thirty a night. All eyes will be on former Victorian Volleyball representative who last year was with Red Cliffs, Brad Hassell. This tall, high leaping forward could be just what Woomelang Lascelles are looking for to hold down the full forward spot. The Cats will lose Tyson Monaghan to South Australian Amateur Football League and Liam Burns to Sunraysia.
The first round kicks of on April 14th when Jeparit Rainbow host Woomelang Lascelles, Hopetoun play Sea Lake Nandaly Tigers and Walpeup Underbool travel down to Beulah. It promises to be an exciting year for Mallee footballers, Clubs and supporters. Time to get your membership ticket, get the thermos out and get ready to support your Mallee Football League side.
Last Modified on 28/03/2012 21:15
