It’s on, with a new name

Drouin
President: Stephen Allison
Coach: Ben Soumilas
Position last year: 5th
Prediction this year: 3rd or 4th
The Hawks look every bit as strong this year, if not better and coach Ben Soumilas will settle for nothing less than another finals appearance.
It is important to recall that the Hawks suffered narrow defeats in the opening three rounds last season that set them back early. They then picked up and played with a self-assurance that saw them make an elimination final appearance.
In Andy Soumilas, Damian Carmody, Chris Dunne, Pat McGrath, David Olsen and Daniel Barrand the Hawks have some of more elite players in the competition and will be always hard to beat.
Of the new recruits, Dromana defender Aaron Coyle has impressed in a central defensive role in the practice matches and two former players have rejoined the club, Catani midfielder Justin Evans and agile ruckman Brock Honeysett.
Utility Jordy Edwards has recovered from a second knee reconstruction and is expected to be available and Bunyip assistant coach Brad Walker is also a handy pick-up. The Hawks have lost Todd Cook to the Wodonga Raiders, Mick Ablett and Trevor Piner to Yarragon and Jayson Barwick to Ellinbank.
Warragul
President: Chris Blackwood
Coach: Peter Fusinato
Position last year: 6th
Prediction this year: 7th-9th
The Guls face a tough season with the loss of many key young players. Lanky ruckman Bernie Jones has rejoined from Mansfield and Ellinbank midfielder Mark Johnston will join brother Tommy but few new arrivals are expected to make an impact.
Peter Fusinato has been re-appointed coach with five times best and fairest Ryan Davey his assistant.
Leaving Western Park are Nathan Lieshout to Pakenham, Clint Rowe to Frankston (VFL), Steve and Rob Murphy to Chelsea Heights and emerging talent Josh Helliwell along with Ross Glover, Daniel Golding and James Keeble have all gone to Ellinbank.
Nick Humphrey and Kane Saliba have gone to Neerim Neerim South, Shane Ingham and Jason Croft to Nilma-Darnum, Gavin Huxley to Catani, Adam Jostlear to Garfield and Ryan Matthews and Brett Davis have moved interstate.
Finals football looks to be a remote chance.
Maffra
The reigning premiers have a similar list to last season’s, except that Ben Robbins has retired. The biggest signing is delisted AFL Fremantle tall Brent Connolly while on the down side Gippsland Power forward Jed Costigan has left for Nilma-Darnum. Graham Robbins is senior coach again. Should be in the top three teams.
Traralgon
The Maroons have regained Dan McKenna, an AFL rookie with Geelong delisted over summer, but lost the experienced duo of Tom McQualter (Achilles injury) and Matt Habel, who has retired. Coach Steven Hazelman, injured in the grand final, is making good progress after a knee laparoscopy and expected to play mid season, if not earlier. With 14 consecutive wins last season before their heart-breaking grand final loss after the siren to Maffra last season the Maroons will be flag favourites.
Moe
The Lions will again be steered by Troy Makepeace. They have recruited Nilma-Darnum star Allan Chandler, Rob McMahon, a key position player from Darley, James Blaser has returned from Casey Scorpions and Jake Wood, Hill End’s best and fairest in 2009.
But lost are many handy youngsters led by Luke Webber, Brad Wedrowicz, Jesse Bird, John Chessells, John James and Jake Munro and well as club stalwarts Chris Smogavec and Jason Shields, all to clubs in either the MGFL and NGFL. A top five spot is likely.
Morwell
Sale 2008 premiership coach and 2009 league best and fairest Adrian Cox has been announced senior coach. Key defenders Michael Duncan and Julian Blackford, rover Sam Mills and utility Rob Michaelidis are all back at the club. Morwell should play finals football.
Sale
Nick Anderson has been appointed coach and Kane and Brenton Martin, Phil Harris and Chris Aurisch have all returned after a premiership at Nilma-Darnum. Former Carlton AFL rookie Craig Flint has rejoined the club while youngsters Sam Bristow and Darcy Thorpe and wingman Justin McLay have left. Finals football looks well within reach again for the Magpies.
Leongatha
With few newcomers of note and the loss of key runners Brad Rayson, Caine Salmon, Adam Govers, Roy Mullins, Tommy Dowd and Paul Fawcett the Parrots will struggle to make the top five this season. Adrian Campbell remains senior coach.
Wonthaggi
Wonthaggi rejoins the league. Over the 2005 summer, the Power merged with the Wonthaggi Rovers and the new club has played in five consecutive Alberton Grand Finals, winning three but losing last year to Stony Creek by 14 points. Some key players still around since they last played in the WGLFL include Aaron Ware, Phil and Ben Young, Andrew Sorensen and Tim Gilliland. Paul Brosnan remains senior coach. Should knock on the door of the top five.
Round 1 – Saturday 10 April (likely winners in capitals)
DROUIN v Maffra
MORWELL v Warragul
Moe v TRARALGON (at Yallourn North on Sunday)
Wonthaggi v Leongatha was played on Saturday 3 April.