It’s been a bizarre two years in local footy to say the least.
But the AFL Outer East has had one of the more mystifying off-seasons in recent years.
Last year’s Premier Division ladder leaders – Beaconsfield and Cranbourne – have departed the competition, as has the competitions only Division 1 premier, Doveton.
Beaconsfield has made its way to the Eastern Football League, while Doveton and Cranbourne has set its sights on the Southern competition.
No Cranbourne v Narre Warren; no Narre Warren v Beaconsfield; no Beaconsfield v Cranbourne and no Doveton v Pakenham in the fixture. It’s simply eerie.
But it leaves the competition with a new look, and with that new look, provides new opportunities.
GAZETTE reporter TYLER LEWIS with the 2022 AFL Outer East season preview…
PREMIER:
PAKENHAM
2021:
FINISH: 4th – four wins, three losses (Premier Division)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Josh Tynan (8)
2022:
COACH: Ash Green
CAPTAIN: Yet to be announced.
KEY IN: Ben McDonald (Cheltenham), Mitch Johnston (when available – Southport VFL) and Brenton Wells (Noble Park)
KEY OUT: JJ Peni (Nar Nar Goon), Dermott Yawney (Nar Nar Goon) Darcy Hope (Karingal) and Josh Hutton (Knox)
MESSAGE FROM WITHIN (Coach Ash Green):
“They have been fantastic, that is being honest, they don’t get involved in what happens off the field” he said of the preseason drama.
“As I keep saying to them ‘worry about what is on the field that is all we can control’.
“To their credit they have been fantastic, we have probably had our hardest preseasons for a while; a lot of running, lot of physicality as well, lot of contested football training.
“I mean there hasn’t been a lot of talk; all they’re (the players) worrying about is what we can do on the field.
“The problem we have got is we have two weeks off over Easter, (after) the completion of round 1 and then we play Officer in two weeks on Anzac Day, (but at the moment) all we can worry about is playing well against Narre Warren.”
PREVIEW:
It will be interesting to see how Pakenham perform come Saturday night.
The Lions certainly have a talented list – and led by Ash Green are in good hands – but there is no denying it was a turbulent beginning to its preseason campaign.
The men out of Toomuc Reserve have a mighty opportunity this year, with a chance to make – realistically – back-to-back Outer East grand finals.
In the latter stages of last year, the Lions showed their worth against the top four sides, often pushing Narre and Cranbourne to its best to beat them.
While the reaction of the group will be fascinating, it will also be interesting to see where the Lions goals are going to come from.
Josh Tynan was the leading goal-kicker with eight, and the Lions averaged 78 points last season.
Granted the Lions are a defensive side and only conceded on average 52 points last year, but it’s intriguing to see where that scoreboard impact is going to source from.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Narre Warren
PREDICTION:
Runners-up
OFFICER:
2021:
FINISH: 4th – six wins, three losses (Division 1)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Jesse Longmuir (30)
2022:
COACH: Doug Koop
CAPTAIN: Ben O’Laughlin
KEY IN: Tom Marks (Cranbourne), Anthony Willenburg (Mitcham), Kaleb Brice (Tooradin), Tanner Thomsen (Nilma Darnum) and Dale Hinds (Somerville)
KEY OUT: Tyler Clark (Seaford) and James Waldon (Fairpark)
MESSAGE FROM WITHIN (President Nick McLennan):
“Our expectation this year is to be competitive and see how far and how deep we can go,” he said.
“We don’t rule anything out in terms of how high up the ladder of where we can finish, but certainly in our five year plan – which did include us going up to Premier Division – not through the means we have, but the plan was always to go up.
“Continue to grow and work from there to establish ourselves in the Premier Division long term.
“The morale around the group is good, the training standard is good and I think based off our results over last year and the year prior, the group has grown and understands there is nothing to fear about any of the sides we are playing against.
PREVIEW:
This season will be an almighty step up and an even bigger opportunity for the Officer Football Club.
The Roos had a head of steam in the final rounds of 2021, defeating several sides above them on the ladder.
There is no doubting that when the Roos get a run on, they go for the kill. In last years six wins, Officer had an average winning margin of 89-points, recording four of six wins by a margin in excess of 70-points.
This year will be different, the gap between the top four and the bottom four will not be as apparent as it was in Division 1 last year and the Roos will be tested more frequently.
With such a talented list, it is certainly up to the task.
The Roos should set the benchmark to impact in finals and settle for nothing less.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Upwey Tecoma
PREDICTION:
Fifth
NARRE WARREN:
2021:
FINISH: 3rd – six wins, three losses
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Trent Cody (18)
2022:
COACH: Shane Dwyer
CAPTAIN: Trent Cody
KEY IN: Jarrod Smith (Doveton)
KEY OUT: Nathan Foote (Bunyip), Cory Machaya (Cora Lynn)
MESSAGE FROM WITHIN (Coach Shane Dwyer):
“The expectation will be as it was last year, make finals and see how we go,” he said.
“I have heard a lot about of people think it will be Narre all the way, but they don’t give them away (flags) and you need a lot of luck.
“Luck in injuries and luck in games as well.
“That will be my message to the boys, just because you look good on paper, it doesn’t mean you are going to go out and win every week.
“It is a lot of work to be done, they are well aware, we are such a young group, some of these guys haven’t had much to do with those rivalries with Beacy and Cranny over the journey because they are so young.
“Hopefully that works in our favour as well.”
PREVIEW:
The hunter, is now the hunted
For the best part of six seasons, Narre Warren has been hunting sides that appear to be a step ahead of them in the home and away season.
But with the withdrawal of Berwick, Beaconsfield and Cranbourne – the regulation top four in the old SEFNL – in recent years, the Pies are left as the strongest side on paper.
However, Shane Dwyer is fully aware of the pressure the likes of Pakenham, Officer and Woori Yallock are going to offer.
The first match of the season will be telling, with Pakenham expected to be a fellow front-runner for the flag.
A big factor in the Pies success this year will be its efficiency in front of goal.
Of Narre Warren’s nine games last year, only on two occasions did the Pies convert more majors than behinds.
With the amount of scoring shots the side generates, look out if they get their goal-kicking on song.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Pakenham
PREDICTION:
Premiers
MONBULK:
2021:
FINISH: 1st – Six wins, one loss, one draw (Division 1)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Taylor Joyce (33)
2022:
PREVIEW:
Monbulk are a side that suits the brand of footy that is required to compete in the Premier competition.
The Hawks have the bodies on the inside and then the ability to spread and kick scores on the outside.
Comfortably a front-runner for the 2021 Division 1 premiership, the Monbulk unit will be right amongst it in its new competition.
The Joyce brothers are crucial for the Hawks, particularly their one on one prowess on the smaller ground at home.
Monbulk is one club that has an excess of under-19 kids, which is encouraging as it tilts towards the Premier finals.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Bye
PREDICTION:
Third
MT EVELYN:
2021:
FINISH: 2nd – eight wins, two losses (Division 1)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Michael Gibbons (30)
2022:
PREVIEW:
Mt Evelyn is an enigmatic outfit.
The Rovers last season would produce classy performances where they would emerge as a premiership favourite, before backing it up with a discouraging defeat.
The difference between its best and worst is large, but fortunately for the men out of Mount Evelyn Rec Reserve, its best is enough to contend with the best.
One thing is for certain, Mt Evelyn does not struggle to kick a winning score, in its 10 outings last year the Rovers accumulated 1090 points, averaging over 100 points a game.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Wandin
PREDICTION:
Sixth
WOORI YALLOCK:
2021:
FINISH: 6th – four wins, four losses (Premier)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Zach Monkhorst (22)
2022:
PREVIEW:
2021’s sixth placed finish doesn’t represent where this club is at heading into this season.
The Tigers were a considerable threat to the big three at the top and were never taken lightly.
That was evident in yet another draw with Cranbourne, where the Tigers managed to hold the Eagles to 39 points.
Woori Yallock should have come away with the win that day, kicking a wasteful 5.9, but it definitely demonstrated it is a competitor in this Premier Division.
The Monkhorst brothers are always a threat to opposition and with a full preseason under the belt of some of its youngsters, Woori Yallock should be back amongst it when the whips are cracking.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Olinda Ferny Creek
PREDICTION:
Fourth
OLINDA FERNY CREEK:
2021:
FINISH: 5th – four wins, three losses (Premier Division)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Lachlan Taylor (9)
2022:
PREVIEW:
Olinder Ferny Creek lost no fans in 2021, with an extremely brave season.
The Bloods had a fantastic year on field, despite the challenges off-field with heavy rain and flash flooding impacting the club so deeply.
The desire to compete with the best is evident, but what went under the radar last year was Olinda Ferny Creek’s ability to learn and fix on the go.
In last year’s season opener, the Bloods conceded 123 points, ringing the alarm bells as to being a side that appears easy to score against, but for the remaining six games, the Bloods only conceded 324 points, an average of just 54.
There is a lot of talent in this list, its round one result will likely be a big teller in where this group can finish.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Woori Yallock
PREDICTION:
Seventh
WANDIN:
2021:
FINISH: (8th – one win, seven losses)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Connor Smith (6)
2022:
PREVIEW:
The Dogs showed glimpses last year, particularly at home.
If it could play most weeks on its home track, Wandin would be much higher on the ladder, while this year will be on developing some of its younger prospects, the Dogs will certainly look to resurrect some of that away form.
The Dogs averaged 122 points against in away games last year, with a number of clashes against sides it pushed at home at different stages of the season.
Its solitary win last year came over Doveton, but the Dogs also had their chances to make it two wins over the Doves, kicking 7.15 to Doveton’s 9.6 in the opening round.
While it may appear to be a slower year for the Wandin outfit, complacency – especially away – against the Dogs might cost a few teams four points.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Mt Evelyn
PREDICTION:
Ninth
UPWEY TECOMA:
2021:
FINISH: 7th – two wins, six losses (Premier Division)
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Daniel Waters (9)
2022:
PREVIEW:
The Tigers biggest problem last season was its ability to kick a winning score.
Despite coming away with the two wins and finishing two places clear of the spoon, the Tigers had the worst points for in the competition, averaging just 42 points per game.
Daniel Waters led the club for majors in 2021 (9), which included a bag of six (six of 10) against Pakenham in round 11.
Like many teams, the Tigers need to find a reliable source for majors this season and its success hinges on it.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Officer
PREDICTION:
Eighth
DIVISION 1:
BERWICK SPRINGS:
2021:
FINISH: 8th – two wins, seven losses
LEADING GOAL-KICKER: Tom Nelson (10)
2022:
COACH: Rodney Benstead
CAPTAIN: Daniel Ousley
KEY IN: Steve Roach, Corey Green, Luke Damato, Josh Herkess, Bryce Keyzer
KEY OUT: nil.
MESSAGE FROM WITHIN (Coach Rodney Benstead):
“I think you have to be really ambitious,” he said.
“We had some really good young kids; they played their first year of senior football.
“Blake Simondson, Tom Nelson, Kayden Buselli – he won the under-19’s best and fairest.
“Your second year in senior football is often the year where you start being comfortable, so with our young players, I think we have recruited really well, keeping everyone, I think just having our own home ground now a real connection is starting to develop.
“I won’t cap it, I have said to the boys, I want to play finals football, that is what we will aim for and that is where we are at.”
PREVIEW:
The Titans will make major inroads this season.
Setting aside the expected development and impact of new recruits, the retainment of Berwick Springs has been nothing short of exceptional.
While they were unpredictable at times, one thing is for certain with this group, the opponent will need to come ready for a fight.
The Titans fight hard in the contest and when they get a sniff are hard to push aside. The young group seemed a bit fatigued at the latter stages of the year last year with the constant stop-start nature of 2021, but with another preseason under its belt, the side should squash that trend.
With the departure of some of the bigger threats in the Division 1 competition, there is no ceiling on where this Berwick Springs outfit can finish.
ROUND 1 OPPONENT:
Healesville
PREDICTION:
Fifth
PREMIER DIVISION LADDER PREDICTOR:
Narre Warren
Pakenham
Monbulk
Woori Yallock
Officer
Mt Evelyn
Olinda Ferny Creek
Upwey Tecoma
Wandin
