CHANGE has come at Beaconsfield. Off field, multiple premiership president John Airdrie has again assumed control and, even better, on field Austinn Jones has been cherry picked to turn the underperforming young Eagles into footballing men.
However, that task has defeated Jones’ two just-as-well-qualified predecessors in Haydn Robins and Robbie Taylor, and until some team spirit is shown on the park the Eagles will have their knockers.
The inclusion of Ryan Donaldson (when fit), Sean Alexander, the Collins brothers David, Ben and Mitchell and possibly also Clint Setford, will provide proven football talent, but the departure of Taylor and goalsneak Luke McConnell will also leave big holes.
Again, on paper the Eagles look like serious final five prospects but the jury is still out on this group.
Coach says: “We’re not just there to make up the numbers this year. We’ve had a good summer and the players are starting to take the message on, but obviously there’s a way to go because the season hasn’t started yet. Training and practice matches have their place but we’re ready and looking forward to the real season now.”
Key ins: Ryan Donaldson, Sean Alexander; David, Ben and Mitchell Collins.
Key outs: Robbie Taylor, Luke McConnell, Bryce Tonks, Andrew Stent.
Keys to success: Chris Kelf, Andrew Williams, Ryan Donaldson, the Collins brothers.
Rising star: Aaron Gwozdziewski.
Prediction: 5-7.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:BERWICK
ONE of the most interesting aspects of the 2009 Wickers had nothing to do with football.
After a bitter off-field coup, the new administration under club stalwart Cliff Donegan, made a pact to publicly ‘sing from the same hymn book’. That has happened time and time again at the Edwin Flack Reserve but this time it worked and, combined with a big swag of recruits sourced by astute coach Glenn Dale, finals were at last a reality for the club’s long suffering supporters.
The trick this year will be to improve.
Dale will start the year with a fitter, united and importantly mostly unchanged list so finals look almost certain again and top three is a real chance.
Coach says: “We want to improve on last year, it’s that simple. We finished fifth and we want to improve on that, but still play as many kids as we can. We’ve had a senior bunch that has consistently trained over pre-season this year and we will be fitter for sure, but I don’t want to put too much pressure on. We will have games where we are down and others when we’re up but we think we’ve got the talent to play finals again for sure.”
Key ins: Andrew Stent, Nathan Waite.
Key outs: Andrew Morozoff, Brad Miles.
Keys to success: Andrew Tuck, Dale Robinson, Jason Heath, Grant Noonan.
Rising star: Tim Gunn.
Prediction: 3-4.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:CRANBOURNE
CRANBOURNE is the team in waiting. The Eagles hierarchy would probably have wished that Doveton’s woes had also beset its nemesis Pakenham, but the fact is that, if a return to the top is to be achieved, every opponent has to be put down and that is the challenge at Casey Fields in 2010.
Coach Doug Koop has added significant firepower to his list with Justin Berry and young gun Kael Bergles signing on, while the return of Ryan Davey will add grunt to the midfield.
Defence may be the Eagles Achilles heel, but if you are kicking goals the backline is not an issue, is it. If Koop can keep the egos in check, look out Pakenham.
Coach says: “We need to play a certain standard of footy and if we achieve that we will win games but if we don’t well class won’t always get you through and that has been proven time and again. We can’t get ahead of ourselves ever. We’re looking to improve from last year and we’ve got a couple of quality recruits to assist us but we’ve got to make sure that we don’t get carried away with the little victories on the way to the bigger prize.”
Key ins: Justin Berry, Kael Bergles, Ryan Davey.
Key outs: Chris Doria, Daniel Watson, Matthew Linke, Aaron Shedlock.
Keys to success: Marc Holt, Curtis Barker, Justin Berry, Matt Fletcher.
Rising star: Max Gearon.
Prediction: 1-2.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:DEVON MEADOWS
DEVON Meadows – your time has come! Anticipation is sky-high for the Panthers after an influx of proven football quality in the pre-season.
Forget the side’s 2009 11th placing, this is the team tipped to be on the rise with a bullet under third year coach Steve O’Brien. Quite simply it has to be finals in 2010 or the efforts made by the loyal Panther recruiting team, even more loyal sponsors and the unbelievably staunch local playing group will be for nothing.
Devon Meadows supporters deserve some success and now look to have the side to achieve it. Excuses will not wash this year.
Coach says: “We’ve finally got a couple of recruits over the line and that’s really provided a boost for the club. We’ve changed our game around a bit too and this season’s group has a good mix of experience and versatility I think. I would be disappointed if we couldn’t be in the mix for a finals spot this year.”
Key ins: Stefan Baumgartner, Justin Hill, Aaron Henwood, David Velardo, Adam Jago.
Key outs: Dale Alanis, Callum O’Hare.
Keys to success: Aaron Henneman, Adam Jago, Stef Baumgartner, Daniel Rigg.
Rising star: Steve McInnes.
Prediction: 5-7.
@BT Sub Sport Gaz:DOVETON
WHAT a debacle! The once mighty Doves will field a young side full of hope but with the very real chance of going through the 2010 season without singing their song, after finishing 2009 as undefeated minor premiers.
Not sure if that has ever been done before and, for their loyal supporters’ sake, it is to be hoped that new coach Mark Ladgrove can find a way of covering the loss of 17 senior grand final players.
The Doves are in for a tough year and one that experienced premiership trio Ryan Hendy, Brad Downe and Michael Henry will have to steel themselves to bear and lead the side through. Providing that the club holds its head high and maintains discipline in the face of adversity (on and off field), the Doves will eventually bounce back, but its 51st season threatens to be its worst nightmare ever.
Coach says: “There’s been some changes but we’ll move forward now. Other clubs are always keen to recruit Doveton players and I suppose that’s a compliment to the club, but the reserves have won three grand finals in a row and it’s time that some of those players were given the chance to step up. We won’t be as bad as some people think.”
Key ins: None.
Key outs: Russell Gabriel, Shannon Henwood, Ricky Hayes, Justin Hill, Danny Casset, Daniel Charles, Ben Hoskin, Callum Pattie, Corrie Wilson, Nathan Wilson, Daryl Thomas, Daniel Zarjac, Aaron Henwood, Peter Greenstreet.
Keys to success: Ryan Hendy, Michael Henry, Brad Downe.
Rising star: Travis Hendy.
Prediction: 11th.
