THE dust has barely settled on Berwick’s 2015 South East Football Netball League premiership cup but the Wickers’ eight challenges are already staking their claim on 2016 glory.
New coaches Stephen O’Brien (Doveton), Matt Shorey (Hampton Park) and Heath Black (Narre Warren) have made sudden impacts, with their clubs among the most active in the off-season to date.
The Doves sent shockwaves through the competition last week with the signing of former Melbourne excitement machine Aaron Davey as a playing assistant coach. Davey joins the Doves fresh off a season with Rumbalara in the Murray League, and brings 178 games of AFL experience to Robinson Oval.
The 32-year-old is set to be a drawcard, joining a growing list of ex-AFL players to strut their stuff in the SEFNL next season.
From Beaconsfield to Tooradin, from Cranbourne to Pakenham, there are movements aplenty – Gazette Sports Editor DAVE NAGEL runs his eye over those movements to date.
BEACONSFIELD
2015: 4th – 11 wins, 5 losses
Best and fairest: Scott Meyer
2016
Coach: Clint Evans (fourth year)
Ins: Jordan Roberts (Northern Blues – VFL), Daniel Galante (Noble Park – Eastern), Chris Kelf (Belgrave – YVMDFL).
Outs: Tyson Mitchem (Noble Park), Kane Hughes (Kooweerup – Ellinbank), Ben Kerrigan (Kooweerup – Ellinbank), Damien Johnston (Casey Scorpions), Daniel Johnston (Casey Scorpions), Shaun Pollard (retired).
Evans says: “We’ve lost more than we’ve picked up at this stage but we’ve still got a couple of irons in the fire and what we’ve picked up is quality. Our main form of development is going to come from the kids that we already have at the club.”
We say: Hughes, Kerrigan and Mitchem were basically inconsequential through injury in the second half of the season but leave a big hole in the midfield. If the Johnstons have a successful pre-season at Casey that big hole becomes gaping. Roberts is a key-position player from the Northern Blues in the VFL while Galante is a talented on-baller. Kelf is ageing, but if his body can stand the requirements of a second ruckman then Scott Meyer could spend a lot more time up forward.
BERWICK
2015: Premiers/2nd – 13 wins, 3 losses
Best and fairest: Madi Andrews
2016
Coach: Rhys Nisbet (fourth year)
Ins: Riley Heddles (Frankston – VFL), Mark Weekes (Montrose – Eastern), Jake Wilson (Noble Park – Eastern).
Outs: Michael Manley (retired), Paul Vanschilt (retired).
Nisbet says: “We’ve gone down the same track as last year in respect of only bringing quality people into the club. Riley’s a former Berwick player who played as a hard-at-it backman at Frankston, and Weekes is a versatile type who stands 6ft 2in. We’ve got a couple of young blokes who might try their luck at a higher level, and we’ve had a couple of retirements, but the core of the group remains.”
We say: Heddles and Weekes add further class to what’s already the best list in the league. The only concern for the Wickers is their big-man department. Manley was absolutely crucial to their premiership win this year while James Phillips was undersized in the ruck and had a year out of the box. Will talented half forward Jordy Andrews make a successful return from a knee injury that kept him to just two games in 2015?
CRANBOURNE
2015: Runner-Up/1st – 14 wins, 2 losses
Best and fairest: Max Gearon
2016
Coach: Simon Goosey (second year)
Ins: Shaun Marusic (Kooweerup – Ellinbank), Kory Grant (Kooweerup – Ellinbank),
Justin Bollenhagen (Renmark – Riverland).
Outs: None as yet.
Goosey says: “We’ve basically retained our list and brought in a couple of players who might change the dynamics a bit. Marusic’s a big boy, but he’s quick enough to play in the midfield and strong enough to play key position. We’re happy with our list but we’re also hopeful we might have a couple of walk-ins like we did last season.”
We say: Expect the Eagles to be exceptionally fit after Goosey finishes his first full pre-season at the club. If Marusic goes forward expect some fireworks in combination with Marc Holt and Michael Theodoridis … boy that’ll take some containing! The Eagles have exceptional ball winners at the stoppages but a lack of pace through the midfield was exposed on the biggest stage of all and appears to be the main area of concern.
DOVETON
2015: 5th – 9 wins, 7 losses
Best and fairest: Russell Gabriel
2016
Coach: Stephen O’Brien (first year)
Ins: Aaron Davey (Rumbalara – Murray), Ryan Hendy (Garfield – Ellinbank), Andrew Henwood (Glen Waverley Hawks – Eastern).
Outs: Jake Dermott (Glen Iris), Frank D’Agostino (Yarra Junction – YVMDFL), Mitch Davies (Bunyip – Ellinbank).
O’Brien says: “One of the main areas we needed to address was how to become more dangerous in front of goal. We think we’ve done that, and the addition of Aaron Davey is just huge for the club and for the competition. We’ve lost some quality players but I’m really confident in the young talent we have at the club and the prospect of bringing those players through. These are exciting times for the club.”
We say: How do balance this one out? Davey’s blistering pace and Hendy’s rat-cunning will make the Doves dangerous up forward, but they still lack that key-marking option. The loss of Dermott will hurt, his 12 games in the green and black were straight from the top shelf, while the departure of D’Agostino and Davies reduces a vertically-challenged list even further. Shannon Henwood’s decision to play on, despite relinquishing the coaching role, is huge for the Doves.
HAMPTON PARK
2015: 9th – 2 wins, 14 losses
Best and fairest: Nathan Allen
2016
Coach: Matt Shorey (first year)
Ins: Jordan Derbyshire (Edi-Asp – Peninsula), Tim Mavric (Edi-Asp – Peninsula), Matt Grant (Kooweerup – Ellinbank), Sean Winsall (Kooweerup – Ellinbank), Matt Langley (Cora Lynn – Ellinbank), Nathan Langley (Cora Lynn – Ellinbank), Scott Durdin (Mazenod OC – VAFA).
Outs: Andrew Shipp (Gembrook-Cockatoo – YVMDFL).
Shorey says: “The main focus with our recruiting has been on bringing some leadership into the group. The team failed in third quarters last season and we’ve identified a lack of leadership as the main reason for that taking place. Matt Grant, Jordan Derbyshire, Tim Mavric, the Langleys, we’re not far away from getting this club back on track.”
We say: This is certainly the biggest influx of players since the infamous mass walkout at the end of 2011. Nathan Langley is a potential star across half forward while Derbyshire, Mavric and Grant will add some real grunt to the Redbacks’ midfield. Matt Langley and Scott Durdin will also provide the back half with a boost. More opportunities could see the talented Nathan Carver have a huge year up forward.
NARRE WARREN
2015: 3rd – 11 wins, 5 losses
Best and fairest: Michael Collins
2016
Coach: Heath Black (first year)
Ins: Heath Black (Mazenod OC – VAFA), Darren Sheen (Maffra – Gippsland), Grant Lofthouse (Mazenod OC – VAFA), Jace Kelly (Mazenod OC – VAFA), Jarrod Dalton (Mazenod OC – VAFA), Dean Kelly (Waubra – Central Highlands).
Outs: Kain Baskaya (retired), Kerem Baskaya (retired), Ben Giobbi (Noble Park), Ryan Morrison (Noble Park), Lee Boyle (Clayton), Jackson Parker (work commitments), Andrew Hunter (travel).
Black says: “I only signed on a few weeks back but it’s already been a full-on experience with a lot of ins and outs at the club. We’ve lost some names that have been around the club for a while but I’m very excited by what we’ve brought in. We’ve got some VFL and VAFA representatives among our recruits and getting a quality full-forward like Darren Sheen to club is really important considering what we have lost.”
We say: Losing Kerem Baskaya from the goal square seemed to be a killer blow for the Magpies but Sheen is one of the few signatures in country football that could counteract that blow. Dean Kelly is an inside mid/forward who is all class, Jace Kelly is a mid/half back, while Jarrod Dalton is a star in defence. Throw in Lofthouse, a ruckman-cum forward, and the return of Black to the midfield and the Magpies could be an exciting team to watch in 2016. But … boy have they lost a few!
OFFICER
2015: 7th – 2 wins, 14 losses
Best and fairest: Ben Tivendale
2016
Coach: Brad Jones (third year)
Ins: Ilan Osman (Thorpdale – Mid Gippsland).
Outs: Chris Potalej (Gormandale – North Gippsland).
Jones says: “At this stage Ilan Osman is the only confirmed signing but it hasn’t been through a lack of trying. Right now we’ve got so many signatures pending and it does become a little frustrating. Osman is a dangerous forward, very similar in build to Matty Clarke, and loves kicking goals. We’ve just spent $15,000 on a new gym so we’re investing in our player which is great for the club. With such a young list we’ve been a little scared of breaking them in the pre-season but they’re all 22 now so they’re ready to have the miles pumped into their legs.”
We say: Inactivity in the off-season means you’re going backwards in this league right now but the Kangaroos do have some upside. They have a very talented young list that has grown together but now needs to take the next step. Look for Dylan Chapman to become a star in the ruck, Matty Clarke to continue his rise to prominence, while Jake Ingaliso will lead the backline. But the Kangas need signatures!
PAKENHAM
2015: 6th – 8 wins, 8 losses
Best and fairest: Dean Blake
2016
Coach: Steve O’Bryan (fourth year)
Ins: Ben Fraser (Blackburn – Eastern), Luke Walker (Kooweerup – Ellinbank), Kym Jones (St Albans – Geelong), Aaron Creasey (Lang Lang – Ellinbank), Jesse Bates (Thornton Eildon – YVMDFL), Sam Blackwood (knee injury).
Outs: None as yet.
O’Bryan says: “I think we’ve improved every year but our depth has got better and it’s time to take the next step now. Our forward line has relied on too few over the years so to bring in Ben Fraser and Jesse Bates, a couple of big targets, will give us more options going forward. It’s pretty exciting really, to have an exciting forward line and improved depth through the midfield. We’ve still got two or three more that we’re close to getting across the line.”
We say: The Lions have done very little recruiting over the last three seasons but have made amends with a stellar haul this time around. This year’s early season pace-setters have added a much needed target up forward in the form of Blackburn skipper Ben Fraser, and have replenished their ruck stocks with the return of 200-centimetre giant Kym Jones. The signing of Lang Lang midfielder/forward Aaron Creasey is also handy, but it’s the return of Luke Walker from Kooweerup that has attracted most attention. Walker, and 2014 league best and fairest winner Dom Paynter, who returns from a serious knee injury, are expected to strengthen the Lions into a finals force.
TOORADIN
2015: 8th – 2 wins, 14 losses
Best and fairest: Adam Galea
2016
Coach: Lachie Gillespie (second full year)
Ins: Nathan Page (Casey Scorpions – VFL), Nicholas Lang (Casey Scorpions – VFL),
Damien Ashcroft (Frankston – VFL), Andrew Dean (Rye – Nepean), Jason Kestle (Hastings – Nepean), Elliott Hunt (Dandenong Stingrays 2014).
Outs: Matthew Wade (Swan Hill).
Gillespie says: “We’ve brought some elite talent into the club this year but we’re not after a sugar hit. We want this growth to be sustainable and that’s why we’ve gone for a younger list of recruits and signed them on for at least two years. Nathan Page, Nick Lang and Damien Ashcroft, they’re all on ballers, while Andrew Dean led Rye’s goal kicking this year. We’re a young group and we truly believe we’re heading in the right direction.”
We say: On the surface the Seagulls appear to have nailed their recruiting this year. Replacing champion Matt Wade was always going to be a difficult task, but Page, Lang and Ashcroft bring a touch of VFL quality to the midfield. Dean will take the pressure off Julian Suarez up forward while young ruckman Elliott Hunt can leap tall buildings in a single bound. They’ve got some ground to make up but the Seagulls look set to soar.
