By RUSSELL BENNETT
ELLINBANK AND DISTRICT FOOTBALL LEAGUE
PREVIEW – ROUND 1
BULN BULN v LONGWARRY
AFTER Cora Lynn and Nar Nar Goon set a sensational tone in front of a massive crowd in the season opener, what better way to continue the blockbuster momentum of the first round than a rematch of last year’s EDFL East decider – the Lyrebirds facing off against the Crows.
Much of the early part of this season will be a journey into the unknown, with the two divisions coming back together in one 15-team competition and an influx of new playing talent making a form guide that much harder to produce.
But it seems there are three certainties in life now – death, taxes and Buln Buln and Longwarry being there when the whips are cracking.
Ok, so maybe the last part is localised to the EDFL, but the point remains; these two sides, along with the Dusties, remain the class of the ‘old’ East.
Both the Lyrebirds and Crows have lost key pieces from last year’s grand final – Sean Proctor, Bobby McCallum from Buln; and Josh Bourke, Jake Serong, and Steve Hawkins from Longwarry. The two grand final coaches, Paul Alger and Dean Rice, have also moved on.
But there should also be plenty of quality new talent on display on Saturday; including Bryce Monahan and Mitch Nobelius for the Lyrebirds, and Alex Veitch and Yillber Zijai for the Crows.
The two sides won’t be lacking for inspiration on Saturday, with Buln out to celebrate the unfurling of last year’s flag, and Longwarry just out for revenge.
The Lyrebirds by two goals.
CATANI v KOOWEERUP
THE Demons clearly have an eye on returning to the big stage for another crack at premiership glory this season, and they’ll get their chance to inflict an early body blow on arch nemesis Cora Lynn in a Round-2 grudge match, but they first need to make sure their focus is concentrated on the Blues this week.
Catani is in for another long season, but Paul Alger’s Blues will never go down without a fight and they’ll throw everything at the Demons this week – particularly through their hardnosed midfield.
However Kooweerup just has far too much class all over the ground to let this one slip.
The Demons by 40 points.
NAR NAR GOON v BUNYIP
ALONGSIDE the grand-final rematch between the Lyrebirds and the Crows, this clash deserves to share match-of-the-round billing.
The Goon faces the prospect of playing an entire season away from home, with upgrade works taking place at their Spencer Street ground. But that’s only likely to bring an already tight-knit unit closer together as a playing group.
There were plenty of positive signs for the Goon in the opening game of the season against Cora Lynn, with Tom Hallinan’s men finishing strongly and with new faces Matt Stevens, Ash Adams and Chris Langley all having an immediate impact.
The game against the Cobras gave them a perfect opportunity to brush off any pre-season cobwebs which might still be evident for the Bulldogs this week, for what is their first clash of the season proper. A host of familiar faces have returned to The Kennel this season, alongside former Beaconsfield superstar Kris Fletcher and former Warragul pair Lachlan Petch and Jake Proctor. Suddenly, last year’s young, inexperienced and undersized Dogs lineup has a much more familiar snarl, but the Goon should still be too good in their first ‘home’ game of the year at Cora Lynn.
Nar Nar Goon by 18 points.
GARFIELD v LANG LANG
THERE shouldn’t be any surprises at Beswick Street on Saturday when it comes to the result, but there will be plenty of intrigue surrounding the Stars’ first home game of the year against Lang Lang.
Garfield has welcomed back the vast majority of last year’s preliminary final side, but has boosted it with the additions of Tyson and Darcy Payne – sons of Stars legend Murray Payne – and favourite son Lincoln Withers. On top of that, one of the most decorated local players of recent times Justin Berry will also don the Garfield colours for the first time since his switch from Hastings.
They’ll come up against a completely unknown quantity in Lang Lang, led by new coach Shane Urbans and a raft of new players – many from the Frankston Bombers. But the Stars should still have too much star power in a five-goal win.
NYORA v NILMA DARNUM
DESPITE what looks like a long, lean year ahead, the Saints have the chance to kick their season off on the right foot at home on Saturday against the Bombers. They’ll be banking on their pre-season fitness emphasis serving them well for their first-round hitout, and the Bombers taking just a little while to get all their new pieces firing on all cylinders. Over the course of the season, Nilma Darnum should comfortably be the better of the two sides but we’re tipping a Round-1 upset – Nyora by two points.
POOWONG v ELLINBANK
FOR two sides that simply won’t get much of a chance to celebrate success in 2015, this game is even more significant than a usual season-opener. New Magpies coach Brenton Lockhart is steadfast in his belief that his side will avoid the wooden spoon this season, adding that “five or six wins” would provide a platform to build from in the coming years.
“We know it’ll take a good two to three years to get up there, but with so many players 20-and-under there’s a lot room for improvement,” he said.
The Magpies have cast their recruiting net across the Gippsland and Alberton leagues and have signed enough talent to see them past the Bankers.
Poowong by 22 points.
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v NEERIM NEERIM SOUTH
THE Dusties and Cats both seem to have taken big strides forward for their 2015 campaigns, with Neerim South coach Jack Halligan even acknowledging that the opportunity of playing against the likes of Cora Lynn, Nar Nar Goon and Kooweerup this year helped provide the carrot to entice some big names back to the club. There’s no doubt many of the Eastern clubs will find the going tough for much of the season, but the Cats refuse to be the whipping boys for the Western powerhouses. After welcoming back the Uries, Tyssen Morrow and Calum Shiels, they’ll likely be knocking on the door of the finals all year but the Dusties have an impressive list of inclusions of their own and will be too strong in their opening home game for the year at Western Park.
Warragul by 14 points.
ROUND 1 TIPS
BULN BULN v Longwarry
Catani v KOOWEERUP
NAR NAR GOON v Bunyip
GARFIELD v Lang Lang
NYORA v Nilma Darnum
POOWONG v Ellinbank
WARRAGUL INDUSTRIALS v Neerim Neerim South
Cora Lynn – bye
