EDFL 2015 SEASON PREVIEW
BULN BULN – Coach: Brent Eastwell – Prediction 3-4th
The 2014 East Division premiers have been quiet on the recruiting scene over summer. Warragul strongman Bryce Monahan has joined the Lyrebirds while ruckman Bob McCallum and forward Sean Proctor have returned to their former club Drouin. Buln Buln still have enough depth to go deep into the finals again. Rover Tyson Bale is genuine star and Trent Baker, James Davidson, Jack Symes and Carlton Helliwell are all exciting youngsters to keep a watch on.
BUNYIP – Coach: Brad Walker – Prediction 5th-6th
The Bulldogs often expended a lot of energy last year for little reward up forward. Bunyip hope this will change with the return of Brent Heus, who played at Beaconsfield in 2014 and kicked a ton when last in the tri-colour jumper in 2013. Another forward Shane Smith has also returned after one season at Nilma Darnum. His team mate last year at the Bombers Brad Wolfe has also come back to the kennel and should get good support in defence by Lachlan Petch, who shapes as a very good pick up from Warragul. While he did not play a game last year tight defender Andrew Henwood is a loss and also ruckman Marc Rotunno (both to Glen Waverley Hawks) while Adam Rakip has moved to Central Murray team Woorinen. Keep tabs youngsters on Jack Blakey and Sam McMillan.
CATANI – Coach – Paul Alger - Prediction 11th – 12th
After an injury riddled 2014 the Blues expect an upturn in fortunes with the return of one of its favourite’s sons Paul Alger, who took the club to successive premierships in 2005/6 before piloting Buln Buln to the flag last year. Unfortunately for fans aside from canny midfielder Luke Tyrell who has returned to the club from Gembrook there have been few other quality recruits. Phil Cahill has left to re-join his original club Nar Nar Goon and Ricky Delphine has moved to Gembrook. Owen Fitzpatrick has now kicked 729 senior goals over the last decade but once again likely to see too little of the ball to have the Blues threaten the teams in the top half of the ladder.
CORA LYNN – Coach – Travis Marsham – Prediction 1st – 2nd
There will be little change to side that held the 2014 West Division Premiership cup aloft. Former AFL Kilda wingman Aussie Jones, now 38 years of age has joined the club as Director of coaching and is likely to play enough games to be eligible for the finals while midfielder Jordan Toole has returned from Rowville. The Cobras are well drilled and with a suite of talented midfielders it is at short odds to go all the way again.
ELLINBANK – Coach – Hayden Fredericks – Prediction 13th – 14th
The Eagles look to have their backs to the wall. Ex defender and club stalwart Andrew Quirk has returned and tall utility David Scott Smith has joined from the Dusties. The main story at Ellinbank over summer circles around the departures led by 2014 coach Daniel Barrand and his brother Matthew along with Daniel Seri (all back to Drouin), Glen Hamilton (Narre Warren), Nick Pratt (Yarragon) and young guns Nathan Paredes and Will Jolley (Warragul Industrials).
GARFIELD – Coach – Ryan Hendy – Prediction 3rd – 4th
The Stars will again be in pursuit of nothing less than a top four finish. The Stars have pulled off one of – if not the biggest recruiting coups of the off season signing Justin Berry. The dynamic midfield-forward has played in the SANFL, played over 100 games at Frankston and represented the VFL and the VCFL. While 33 years of age he still has plenty to offer. Tough veteran Lincoln Withers is also expected to return. On the flip side last season’s preliminary finalists have lost hard at it young defender Hayden Watson to Nyora and a some run with Nick Battle (Doveton & Casey Scorpions), Alex Nooy (Kilcunda-Bass), Chase Smaluch (ROC) and Sam Ferguson (Cairns City) all leaving Beswick Street.
KOO WEE RUP – Coach – Matt Shorey – Prediction 2ndor 3rd
The Demons still have unfinished business after their grand final loss last year. It will miss young defender Andrew Proctor who has gone up the road to Tooradin and Sean Miller (Tyabb) and Nathan Prosser (Hallam) but has gained some handy players with plenty of senior experience in Sean Winsall (Pakenham), Kory Grant (Belgrave) and Tom Armstrong (Keysborough). Should figure prominently come finals time and if things fall into place are premiership material.
LANG LANG – Coach – Shane Urbans – Prediction 8th -9th
New coach Shane Urbans, who has was at Fish Creek last year before extensive time at Pearcedale and a stint at Langwarrin has enticed a number of former MPNFL players led by his team mate last year Luke Damon who bagged 62 goals and represented the Alberton league to the swampland.
Troy McPherson has returned from Nyora while two other former Saints Mark Perry and goal sneak Geoff Hibberd will put on a Tiger jumper. Utility Corey Batt has also returned. Interleague midfielder Brendan Neville has left for Pearcedale, forward Anthony Craddock for Crib Point and Aiden Nooy to Kilcunda-Bass. Expect Lang Lang to pull a surprise or two and pose real nuisance value for the sides fighting for fifth to eighth.
LONGWARRY – Coach – Scott Gowans – Prediction 3rd – 4th
After making huge strides last year the Crows are primed to go deep into the finals once again.
Expect Longwarry to field a very similar line up this season. Forward Stephen Hawkins who kicked 57 goals last year will play will Traralgon-Tyers and under rated midfielder Josh Bourke who has applied for a clearance to Yarragon will be badly missed. Nevertheless last year’s 2014 East Division runners up still have goal kickers in Semir Zijai and Luke Serong, good midfield grunt and run and a disciplined defence to match it with all comers.
NAR NAR GOON – Coach – Tom Hallinan – Prediction 6th – 7th
The Goon played in the catch up match against Cora Lynn two weeks ago and there was a lot to like despite a loss. Ash Adams (Devon Meadows and Poowong), Matthew Stevens (Templestowe and Traralgon), Jamie Somers (Hill End) and Nyora 2006/7 premiership forward Chris Langley, who played a few games at Tooradin last year was among a number of newcomers to do enough to suggest they will be more than handy. Last year’s Coach Scott Goldsworthy and Matt Krawczyk have returned to Scoresby. The Goon have a number players with three to five years senior experience that will probably determine their fortunes. Midfielder Brendan Hermann is genuine star and ripper to watch.
NEERIM SOUTH – Coach – Jack Halligan- Prediction 3rd – 4th
Neerim is buzzing with return of many former players. These include former league best and fairest Chris Urie, his brother Mick, Tyssen Morrow, Rob Gillespie, Jack Griffiths, Aran Hayes, Sean Ladds and Josh Morrison. This list is impressive however another recruit likely to make the most impact is former junior, Gippsland Power star tall utility Tom Muir who played senior football in the SANFL with Glenelg last year. A big question mark revolves around whether the Neerim midfield can match the best in the competition without Kody Wilson who is unlikely to play many games this year due to a move to the Casey Scorpions. Midfielder Glenn Anderson has returned to his original club Pearcedale.
NILMA DARNUM – Coach – Dean Alger – Prediction 9th-10th
The injection of many Kilcunda-Bass premiership players should put a heart into the Bombers.
New coach Dean Alger, who steered Nyora to back to back flags in 2006/7 and last year coached Kilcunda has enticed the Wells brothers, Danny, Casey and Jason, Ben Arnold, former Longwarry players Andrew McKenna and Luke O’Donoghue and former Garfield and Cora Lynn tall Ben McKay who all played at the Panthers last year. The Darno’s have lost athletic big man Johnny Ikupu (Euroa) and Shane Smith and Brad Wolfe who have returned to Bunyip.
NYORA – Coach – Peter Smith – Prediction 14th or 15th
The Saints face the prospect of a lean season. Young Garfield defender Hayden Watson is expected to be their best newcomer. Disappointingly it has lost Iian Osman and Adam Tagliaferro (Thorpdale), Dylan Bracebridge (Clayton), Peter Greenstreet (Doveton) and Troy McPherson (Lang Lang). Last season’s thirds coach Peter Smith will guide Nyora and should be satisfied if the Saints can pick up two or three victories.
POOWONG – Coach – Brenton Lockhart Prediction 13th – 14th
The Magpies have taken a punt on 28 year old former Drouin utility Brendan Lockhart to lead the club into the future. He has enticed his former Hawk team mates Rhys Fairlie and Simon Gardiner to join the club and midfielder Jared Attenborough has returned after a year off and three seasons at Kilcunda-Bass. On the downside Sam Russell and Jarryd Drew (Warragul), Craig Taylor (Paynesville) and Mitch Cochrane (South Mandurah) have departed while Mark Bradley has retired. With an average losing margin close to 10 goals last year the Magpies are coming from a long way back and likely to focus on getting games into its youngsters this season.
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS –Coach – Ash Green Prediction 6th – 7thth
The Dusties are one of the more difficult clubs to get a handle on. Many punters think having been up for a number of years and could be on the slide but new and experienced coach Ash Green should be able to get the most out of a list that still has plenty of seasoned and quality players.
Recruit Nathan Paredes (Ellinbank) when available from Casey Scorpions will be a real asset and with fellow young recruits Will Jolley (Ellinbank), Michael Lynn and Cooper Minichiello (both from Warragul) the Dusties have an eye to the future. Agile 21 year old Traralgon tall Jayden Steers could prove to be one of the recruits of the year and Chris Robinson from Moe is also another plus.
Last Modified on 09/04/2015 15:13
