The new-look Division 3 season kicks off on Saturday, with eight teams set to compete in third division for the first time in the competition’s history.
Kilmore joins the fold after transferring from the Riddell District Football League during the summer, while Mernda returns to the competition for the first time since winning the 2012 flag, following relegation from Division 2 last year.
Places inside the top four will be at a premium this year, with each of last year’s finalists again strengthening their list, while Banyule and St Mary’s will be bolstered by the inclusions of Chris Tarrant and Dillan Ronalds respectively.
Four massive matches await in Round 1, with Kilmore making its league debut when it hosts St Mary’s, while Mernda plays its first home game at the $9.6 million Waterview Reserve when it takes on Epping for the Patrick Chow Cup.
Elsewhere Watsonia hosts 2015 minor premier South Morang at A.K Lines Reserve, while next-door neighbours Heidelberg West and Banyule square off at Heidelberg Park.
Continue below to see your club’s player movements ahead of this weekend’s opening round of action.
BANYULE FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Jason Plant
Last year: 7 wins – 9 losses (fifth)
IN: Alex Carapetis (Nunawading), David Bedggood (Nunawading), Ryan French (Lower Plenty), Bailey Jordan (Heidelberg), Ryan Keys (Shepparton Swans), Russell Lee (Lancaster), Beau Parthenedis (Nunawading), David Rigney (Lancaster), Chris Taylor (Lancaster), Chris Tarrant (Coldstream), Chris Varsamakis (Lancaster)
OUT: Ash Brown (retired), Alex Bottomley (UTS Bats), Brent Hay (Hurstbridge), Brayden Sier (Collingwood AFL)
Coach says: “We’d be disappointed if we didn’t make finals, that’s definitely the goal. We feel like we’re better than last year, but everyone else gets better. It’s pretty even. You need to qualify by winning enough games in the home and away season, but that would definitely be our goal. If we didn’t make it we’d be pretty disappointed with the work that we’ve put in.”
EPPING FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Greg Whitcroft (new)
Last year: 11 wins – 8 losses (runner-up)
IN: Matthew Cottier (Watsonia), Bryce Judd (Chelsea), Thomas Sullivan (Katamatite), Damien Walker (Fitzroy Stars), Michael White (Boisdale-Briagolong), Aaron Willitts (West Preston-Lakeside)
OUT: Ben Power (South Morang)
Coach says: “The group have been working hard on their skill level and are slowly picking up on a slightly different style of play. They appear to be keen on the challenge and looking forward to an exciting season.”
HEIDELBERG WEST FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Grant Toms (new)
Last year: 1 win – 15 losses (seventh)
IN: Ryan Floyd (Fitzroy), Mitch Hand (Heidelberg), Stuart Pike (Nirranda), Brandon Walters (Parkside)
OUT: Daniel Bailey (Glenroy), Casey Brown (North Heidelberg), Kyl Ewart (North Heidelberg), Dylan O’Neill (Northcote Park)
Coach says: “My main goal is to win some games, but also for the guys to have a bit of fun along the way. Coming into the club where the morale was pretty low, it was an effort just to get down to the club. My goal is to let the guys enjoy their footy.”
KILMORE FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Travis McCarty
Last year: 1 win – 15 losses (in Riddell District Football League)
IN: Brian Bell (Diggers Rest), Luke Crowley (Whittlesea), Michael McCulloch (Yea), Mitch McGrath (Longwood), Josh Robertson (Longwood), Nick Sheldon (Bundoora), Ben Taylor-Egan (South Morang), Brock Wightman (Trentham)
Coach says: “It’s an exciting time for Kilmore for the first time in a long time. There’s a big buzz out there, lots of numbers out on the track and lots of new recruits. It’s a transition year for us, we just want to be competitive.”
MERNDA FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Jason Ford (new)
Last year: 1 wins – 17 losses (relegated from Division 2)
IN: Matthew Campbell (South Morang), Cameron Curlis (Howlong), Josh Delaney (Yarra Junction), David Hutchinson (Wakool), Stephen Wallace (Coburg Districts), Jayden Welch (Yarra Junction)
OUT: Matt Aquilina (Diamond Creek), Matthew Duggan (Echuca United), Brad Kairouz (North Heidelberg), Josh Ksiazek (Glenroy)
Coach says: “The goal is to play finals and we’ll be extremely disappointed not to. If we can make them, you never know what can happen.”
SOUTH MORANG FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Dean Grainger (new)
Last year: 13 wins – 5 losses (third)
IN: Michael Celestin (North Heidelberg), Steven Deshong (Lalor), Kane Maghamez (Forest Hill), Luke McKenna (North Heidelberg), Ben Power (Epping), Liam Simmons (Bundoora), Brock Smith (North Heidelberg)
OUT: Aaron D’Angelo (Bundoora), Matthew Campbell (Mernda), Ben Taylor-Egan (Kilmore)
Coach says: “I’m expecting them to learn from the last couple of years . . . learn what they can be better at. All the coaches are pushing for the players to become more professional at what they are do and I think that’ll go a long way. We need to be competitive for longer in games. That’s where we let ourselves down last year, not playing for full quarters.”
ST MARY’S FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Con Borg
Last year: 5 wins – 11 losses (sixth)
IN: Adrian Coco (Bundoora), Isaac Edgar (Albury), Dillan Ronalds (Lower Plenty), Drew Schleibs (Montmorency), Ashby Smith (Imperial)
OUT: Luke Douglas
Coach says: “I’m really excited to see the guys who have been there for a couple of years and developed under the game plan. You can just see they’re at that age now where just overnight they’ll turn from boys to men.”
WATSONIA FOOTBALL CLUB
Coach: Corey McCall
Last year: 10 wins – 7 losses (fourth)
IN: Matthew Buzinskas (Boronia), Xavier Kelly (Minyip-Murtoa), Jake Murphy (Northern Saints), Harry Walker (Hadfield)
OUT: Nabil Yassine (West Preston-Lakeside)
Five in a row?: Watsonia has won its opening match of the season for the past four years.
