See all the key list changes ahead of the 2019 Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 season.
West Preston-Lakeside enters the new season hoping to become the first side in a decade to defend a first division premiership title.
There once again looks to be plenty of worthy challengers contending against the Roosters for this year’s flag, with most pundits expecting the upcoming season to be just as even as recent campaigns.
Lower Plenty returns to the top flight for the first time since 2016, following last year’s extraordinary win over Eltham in the A Plus Labour Solutions Division 2 grand final.
The competition has been bolstered by a host of big-name signings over the off-season, which includes former Brisbane Lions and Carlton midfielder Tom Bell joining Greensborough and Western Bulldogs premiership defender Shane Biggs signing at North Heidelberg.
The 2019 season begins under lights at Bill Lawry Oval on Friday April 5 when Northcote Park hosts Bundoora, ahead of four big games on Saturday April 6.
The opening round matches are:
Friday April 5
Northcote Park vs Bundoora at Bill Lawry Oval (7:10pm start)
Saturday April 6
West Preston-Lakeside vs Heidelberg at J.E. Moore Park (1:40pm start)
Hurstbridge vs Greensborough at Ben Frilay Oval (2:10pm start)
Macleod vs North Heidelberg at De Winton Park (2:10pm start)
Lower Plenty vs Montmorency at Montmorency Park South Oval (2:10pm start)
Continue below to see all the key ins and outs for each Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 team ahead of the 2019 season.
BUNDOORA
Coach: Andrew Sturgess (replacing Ricky Dyson)
Last year: 4th (12 wins – 8 losses)
IN: Ajieng Athuay (Dunolly), Brenton Briffa (Whittlesea), Luke Collins (Montmorency), Ray Connellan (St Kilda), Jakson Cowley (Inner West Magpies), Matthew Evans (Avondale Heights), Liam Gray (Mernda), Jack Hadley (ANU Griffins), John Jorgensen (Fitzroy), Peter McEvoy (Montmorency), Brae Morgan (Macleod), Mark Pavlovski (Hurstbridge), Adrian Stefanile (Mernda), Daniel Venditti (Beaufort), Sam Willatt (Keilor)
OUT: Damandeep Aujla (Airport West), Jai Burns (Fitzroy Stars), Liam Byrne (Avondale Heights), Ricky Dyson (Banyule), Jack Furlong (Hurstbridge), Josh Grabowski (East Keilor), Nick Grabowski (East Keilor), Peter Hood (Fitzroy Stars), Ben Nesci (Thomastown), Dom Nixon, Joe Palazzolo (East Keilor), Kain Proctor (Fitzroy Stars), Kane Slater (Thomastown)
Coach says: “We’ve focused on implementing a solid game plan and play our system and understand what everyone’s role is within that and just train it. I think our players would say our training is boring and repetitive. But if I was to ask any of our players right now what our game plan looks like, they would all be able to explain it really well across the board. We’ve had a real focus over pre-season on a system game plan. That includes ball movement, defence and guys just playing their role. I don’t care how talented they are. If they can play their role, are of good character and fit our values, I’ll pick character over talent any day of the week.”
GREENSBOROUGH
Coach: Mick Harford (replacing Robert Hyde)
Last year: 5th (10 wins – 9 losses)
IN: Tom Bell (Brisbane Lions), Ben Fennell (Montmorency), Damon Marcon (Epping), Jordan McIvor-Clark (Avondale Heights), Liam Read (Riddell), Mitchell Whitham (Kilcunda-Bass)
OUT: Billy Murphy (Aspley)
Coach says: “Their focus is to go deeper into the finals series. The group’s extremely focused and they just want to win. It’s a great environment to be in. It’s such a great group of men and they’re just so driven. I always say that it’s the easiest coaching job I’ve ever been involved in. They almost coach themselves.”
HEIDELBERG
Coach: Frank Raso
Last year: 6th (10 wins – 8 losses)
IN: Jack Blair (Wonthaggi/Collingwood VFL), Anthony Bonaddio (Thomastown), Sam Gleeson (Merrivale), Tim Noakes (Wembley), Daniel O’Dwyer (Yea), Jack Ridewood (Wonthaggi), Matt Schnerring (Warrnambool), Tom Schnerring (Ballarat), Jarrod Walters (St Mary’s)
OUT: Ben Cosgriff (Avondale Heights), Jesse Cucinotta (Norwood), Connor Hehir (Marcellin), Brydan Hodgson (Spotswood), Callum Lewis (retired), Jacob Page (Albury), Mathew Pianto (retired), Chris Ryan (retired), Oliver Stapleton (Diamond Creek)
Coach says: “We played 16 under-19s last year and 10 of them played over 10 games and we want to continue to get more game time into those guys. I was talking to some of our supporters … they’re just excited to see a different sort of model at Heidelberg, where the previous models have been all about bringing in high-end, experienced players on big wages. Now we’re all about bringing in the best kids that are 17, 18, 19 years old and to see us win games with kids, the supporters have just a got a whole new lease of life.”
HURSTBRIDGE
Coach: Jarrod Tilley (replacing Trevor Little)
Last year: 9th (3 wins – 15 losses)
IN: Cooper Barbera (Diamond Creek), William Cookson (South Morang), Jake Dickson (Thornton Eildon), Jack Furlong (Bundoora), Michael Glynn (Banyule), Josh Harris (Banyule), Bailey Jordan (Banyule), Jarryd Lediott (Laurimar), James Mellerick (South Morang), Jack Ryan (Beechworth), Max Scott (Glenrowan)
OUT: Jay Barbera (Roxburgh Park), Travis Cloke, Jack Grimes (Warrandyte), Tom Grimes (Warrandyte), Sean Jellie (Warrandyte), Mark Pavlovski (Bundoora)
Coach says: “We have gone hopefully through the tougher time and will use it as motivation going forward. We don’t want to have to be in that position of having to win the last game to stay up. We have spent the last two years in Division 1. We understand now what it takes to be a strong side in Div 1. Staying there was a must for the club, that’s where we wanted to be. It was a massive last game and we got the job done which was good.”
LOWER PLENTY
Coach: Ben Turner
Last year: Division 2 premier (15 wins – 6 losses)
IN: Dylan Chell (Penguin), Josh Turner (Doncaster), Matthew Perazzola (Northcote Park)
OUT: Ryan Gray (retired), Dale Nolan (retired), Ned Waters (Kew)
Coach says: “We decided at the commencement of last year that we were going to try and invest a bit of time into our younger players. We gave multiple opportunities to our under-19s coming through and gave them some exposure to senior footy in the hope that when the time came for us to be in first division that we’d at least given a large portion of our group some exposure to senior football. Understandably the level is going to be different in first division but the fact that we’ve already given them some exposure for us is a real positive. We’re obviously looking at them to continue to improve so some natural improvement from them will hopefully help us as a footy club.”
MACLEOD
Coach: Christian Stagliano (replacing Garry Ramsay)
Last year: 2nd (17 wins – 3 losses)
IN: Jack Baker (Canberra), Mark Baker (Whitefriars), Aron Burns (Kinglake), Jake Chiminello (Heidelberg West), Matt Dornauf (Echuca), Brodie Foster (Surfers Paradise), Sahand Ghasimzadeh (PEGS), Muhammad Saad (West Coburg), Jack Reynolds (Marrar), Thomas Scott (Keilor), Harry Simington (Labrador), Charles Smythe (Marcellin), Adam Swierzbiolek (East Ringwood), Adrian Totino (Epping)
OUT: Joseph Ciranna (Keilor), Joel Kidd, Jack Langford (Banyule), Ben Lennon, Ned McKeown (North Albury), Brae Morgan (Bundoora), Brayden Plant (Thomastown), Laurence Schubert
Coach says: “I’ve found the energy really good and the guys are quite positive and really hungry about the year ahead and what we’re trying to do as a club. By the time we started training it had been long enough since the grand final that they were all right, fresh and ready to go and looking forward to another crack at it, which was pleasing. As a group, I’m impressed with how hard they train. The intensity at training is really high. That’s something that has impressed me from day one.”
MONTMORENCY
Coach: Garry Ramsay (replacing Ben Haynes)
Last year: 7th (7 wins – 11 losses)
IN: James Collins (Gisborne), Billy Jenkin (return), Michael Pace (Bulleen Templestowe), Jai Robinson (Whittlesea), Kyle Smith (Whittlesea)
OUT: Luke Collins (Bundoora), Ben Fennell (Greensborough), Tyrone Leonardis (Watsonia), Peter McEvoy (Coburg), Joel McLellan (Panton Hill), Jake Potter (South Morang)
Coach says: “We don’t expect players to just be developing this year. This is no five-year plan or anything. There are probably five senior players who could play in the interleague side, so that’s a really healthy number. At this stage their behaviours are really good so there’s no reason why we shouldn’t be finishing in the top three. I think it’s going to be a very even competition. I don’t think any matches you go into thinking ‘we’re definitely going to win’ or ‘we’re horrible underdogs’.”
NORTHCOTE PARK
Coach: Matt McLennan
Last year: 8th (7 wins – 11 losses)
IN: Sam Adam (Albert Park), Hugo Breakey (Claremont), Kyle Galloway (Caroline Springs), Damian Galofaro (return), Charles Le Fanu (Claremont)
OUT: Joel Donaldson (Anglesea), Cal Faubel (Grovedale), Ethan Penrith (Fitzroy Stars), Matthew Perazzola (Lower Plenty), Gerard Sutton (Preston Bullants), Kyle Thomas (Fitzroy Stars)
Coach says: “It’s huge (Jackson Starcevich signing full-time). It’s something we have been working towards. That’s why you entertain the VFL players. As much as they can be a pain, you know when you get them it has always been quality. We saw a couple of years ago when he flying and fit, he was six votes clear in the (Frank Rosbrook) medal. His form line in that period was going up and up and he’s arguably one of the best local forwards available.”
NORTH HEIDELBERG
Coach: Brent Harvey (replacing Jimmy House)
Last year: 3rd (13 wins – 8 losses)
IN: Gazi Assi (Port Melbourne Colts), Shane Biggs (Western Bulldogs), Nicholas Dodge (Melton), Luke Dowdle (Port Melbourne Colts), Jarrod Fitzpatrick (Marong), Daniel Harris (Pascoe Vale), Nyaburu Kelly (Portarlington), Jack Mapleson (Sale), Jacob Sincock (Coffs Harbour)
OUT: Jackson Bailey (Old Ivanhoe), Rhys Gardener (Broadford), Louis Hill (Yarroweyah), Marcus Hill (Yarroweyah), Brody Tardio (Old Ivanhoe Grammarians)
President says: “These days, a playing coach in Division 1 footy is a fairly unique role and there is some sort of element of risk in that I suppose but you look at the credentials of the person, Brent felt it was the right time to look at his coaching career and North Heidelberg being a good stepping stone for him. As far as our list goes, it’s looking fairly solid. I know Brent is very happy with the players we’ve picked up, who we think will add some further depth to our list.”
WEST PRESTON-LAKESIDE
Coach: Rob Maiorana
Last year: Premier (15 wins – 7 losses)
IN: Shaun Gannon (Echuca), Michael Dufficy (Lara), Oliver Dufficy (Lara), Nicholas Kempe (Broadbeach), Michael Marotta (Dalyston), Matthew Signorello (Adelaide)
OUT: Matthew Belbasis (UNSW Eastern Suburbs), Adrian Cirianni (Lalor), Aydin Dani (Watsonia), Julian Maloni (Watsonia), Josh Novelli (Lalor), Michael Perfetto (Watsonia), Michael Sibaie (Watsonia)
Coach says: “I’ve got full belief that the boys are working hard. There is certainly the talent there. The unknown factor is the desire and the will of the boys, but from what I have seen so far, they are well grounded and want to get better and back up again. We’ll certainly give it their best shot. We’ve got some young boys pushing through and there were a handful of guys that were stiff not to play in the grand final team who will improve and hopefully work their way in. There’s certainly some more upside, we believe.”
