Round 1 of the 2019 EDFL season kicks off on Saturday the 6th April. Yarragon have joined the league and will have a challenging debut with a trek to Poowong while last year’s premiers Nyora will unfurl their flag before taking on Buln Buln. The opening round is always tricky therein sits the fascination.
Poowong v Catani
Widely viewed as the match of the day. Both sides were finalists in 2018 and with plenty to prove. The Magpies were big improvers in 2018 while Catani did not reproduce the form that saw it win the 2017 grand final. Like the way the Poowong youngsters are coming along while intercept defender Jayden Sullivan and smalls Jack Hazendonk and Tom Wyatt never play a bad game. Utility Chris Robinson is be a big loss. For Catani expect the usual suspects Paul Pattison and Nick Visser to carry the brunt of the midfield load. Cody Banbury and Dylan Williams took steps forward to share the workload last year. At home the Magpies should run out narrow winners.
Yarragon v Nilma Darnum
Fingers crossed this is the first game of a strong rivalry between the neighbouring clubs over many years. From all reports the Panthers have recruited well. First year Coach Simon Noy is confident his charges will prove to be competitive. Expect ex Bunyip player Brad Wolfe and Captain Mitch Jolly to be prominent. Darcy Jones and Ben Monckton both with some senior experience at Cora Lynn should also be handy recruits for the home side. The Bombers disappointed last year. After winning three of its first four games it fell apart. It has picked up Patrick Chin, Casey Thomsen and Mark Engley who offer well over 300 games of senior experience but to offset their presence it has lost Luke Lange, Mitch Dance and Brent Simons. Yarragon to make its EDFL debut with a victory.
Nyora v Buln Buln
The Saints will unfurl its premiership flag before it goes to work to press for back-to-back premierships. Its opponents Buln Buln are always competitive. In recent seasons the Lyrebirds often push all comers for two to three quarters but can’t win the four points on offer. In fact Buln Buln lost their round two encounter against Nyora last year by only three points. It will be hoping young forwards Charlie Park and Isaac Lalor can develop into good long term forward targets. Defender Tom Axford is one of the most under rated in the league but faces a difficult day as the home side is likely to generate far more entries into its attacking fifty. The constant supply from Coach Ryan Spooner, Dylan & Jesse Heylen, Rhys Bancroft and Kallon Rigby will wear down the Buln Buln defence. Nyora to win comfortably.
Neerim Neerim South v Longwarry
With plenty of experience returning to the Bill Cumming Oval the Cats shape as a handy side. If the Crows are not on their game an upset would not be a surprise. The return of Calum Shiels will provide stability in defence and now veteran Chris Urie still has plenty to offer midfield and in attack. Love the way Jackson Ward and Nathan Bayne go about their footy as well. Longwarry tick all the right boxes in attack, through the middle and in defence. Tye Holland returns to Longwarry and should combine well with Russell Lehmann and share the midfield grunt work. The three pronged attack of Coach Daniel Fry, Braydon McHugh and youngster Jedd Serong, who has returned from Warragul will prove the difference.
Ellinbank v Lang Lang
The Eagles will enter favourites against the Tigers. When they last met in round 15 last year Ellinbank won by 97 points. This time around under new coach Josh Collie expect the margin to be much closer. It will be the Tigers first test of their improvement. Its half a dozen new recruits bring a few hundred games of experience into its line-up. Perhaps Ben Mitchell a ruckman from Pearcedale will be the stand out of the newcomers. Hard to get a read on Ellinbank after its performances last year. These included a 57 point loss to Neerim South in round 13 and then four weeks later beat the eventual premiers Nyora. Given it is the opening round Ellinbank should be injury free and the depth and talent in its line up too strong at home for last season’s cellar dwellers.
SELECTIONS
POOWONG v Catani
YARRAGON v Nilma Darnum
NYORA v Buln Buln
Neerim Southv LONGWARRY
ELLINBANK vLang Lang
Last Modified on 31/03/2019 20:57
