FOUR epic Round 1 encounters are set to kick off an enthralling Division 2 season.
After going so close to winning the premiership in 2013, the Fitzroy Stars have bolstered their list with the additions of former AFL talent Allan Murray and Chris Egan.
The Stars and North Heidelberg look the pre-season premiership fancies after the Bulldogs also added significantly to their list ahead of their first season under new coach Steve Saddington.
Old foes Epping and Lalor also have new coaches at the helm, with Steve Power replacing Mario Bandera at the Blues while club legend Steve Marshall returns to the Bloods.
Diamond Creek, Mernda and Hurstbridge will also fancy their finals chances. The Creekers will still be burning after kicking themselves out of last season’s first semi final, while the Demons and Bridges have signalled their finals intent by signing key players in the off season.
Meantime, newcomer Panton Hill will be confident of fitting straight into the fold, given no Division 3 premier has ever been relegated in their first season back in Division 2.
Continue below to see how your club is shaping ahead of the 2014 season.
DIAMOND CREEK
Coach: David Calthorpe
Last year: 12 wins – 7 losses (fourth)
IN: Jason Buhagiar (Eltham), Chris Burton (Montmorency), Stefan Cosma (Heidelberg), Jason Gray (Eltham), Hugh Kavanagh (Lower Plenty), Mark O’Halloran (Dookie), Jye Whitehouse-Summers (North)
OUT: Brett Godfrey (Moama), Jed McQueen (overseas), Jackson Miller (North Shore), Grant McCracken (Eltham Collegians), Andrew Owen (retired), Oliver Parks (Diamond Creek), Scott Pepyat (Eltham Collegians)
Coach says: “The focus over the pre-season has been centred on us being able to play four quarters. Our best football can match it with the best, so we need to learn to play our best football consistently over four quarters.”
EPPING
Coach: Steven Power (new)
Last year: 4 wins – 14 losses (relegated from Division 1)
IN: Daniel Ioannides, (Roxburgh Park), Dylan Maxwell (Hurstbridge), Thomas Mendico (Strathmore), Adam Suban (Wallan), Robert Skiathitis (Waygunyah), Aaron Willits (returned)
OUT: Les Adams (Mernda), Sean Bolger (Eltham), Shannan Ciavarella (Northcote Park), Matt Dornauf (Whittlesea), Luke Lirosi (West Preston-Lakeside), Simon Kefalas (St Mary’s), John Kreuzer (Kilmore), Harley Nancarrow (West Preston-Lakeside), Daniel Santoro (Northcote Park), Peter Shepherd (West Preston-Lakeside), Jarrod Tilley (Kilmore)
Coach says: “This great club needs to get back to Division 1 and stay there, where it belongs. To achieve this goal we need to create a list mixed with experience and the exciting young talent. We have some fantastic kids coming through that system and managed right, this football club is in fantastic shape for the coming years ahead.”
FITZROY STARS
Coach: Travis Hodgson
Last year: 15 wins – 1 draw – 4 losses (runner-up)
IN: Chris Egan (Shepparton), Clint Edwards (Shepparton), Alex Kerr (Lyndale), Allan Murray (Balwyn, pictured below), Gabirri Yunupingu (Tiwi Bombers)
OUT: Basil Sibosado (Pearcedale), Kain Proctor (Northern Knights), Tjmara Hood (Northern Blues)
Football Manager says: “We thought if we were going to have a crack at it again we had to improve. I suppose the attitude is that we’ll be the hunted where we might have got under the guard a little bit last year.”
HURSTBRIDGE
Coach: Jono Manzoney
Last year: 5 wins – 13 losses (fifth)
IN: Dylan Atkins (Lower Plenty), Aron Burns (Greensborough), Luke Hannah (Euroa), Tony Hogg (Watsonia), Louis Ripon (Curra Swans), Michael Ryan (Bundoora), Joshua Robinson (Norwood), Tom Russell (Tungamah)
OUT: Leigh Catoggio (Eltham), Ben Fennell (Montmorency), Ryan Pentreath (Benella), Michael Richards (La Trobe), Joel Sceney (Yarra Valley)
Coach says: “It’s an exciting time for the Hurstbridge Football Club, for players, certainly coaches and, I would imagine, for supporters as well. They’re a really driven group of players which is always going to be a positive for a coach. The key focus for us is to continually improve and that’s the bottom line.”
LALOR
Coach: Steven Marshall (new)
Last year: 4 wins – 14 losses (seventh)
IN: Tom Bonson (Whittlesea), Beau Delcus (Epping), Sav Esen (South Melbourne), Taaren Hillman (Doveton), Glenn Holmes (Thomastown), Tim Keily (Trafalgar), Jarrod King (North Heidelberg)
OUT: Jarrod Gloury (South Yarra), Steven Goodwin (Watsonia), Mark Roumanos (Watsonia)
Coach says: “As far as the attitude and commitment to train the boys have been really good. The game plans are starting to come together. Obviously what I’m after is a premiership, but it’s more so just to get the club back on track.”
MERNDA
Coach: Brett Wilson
Last year: 7 wins – 11 losses (fifth)
IN: Les Adams (Epping), Jack Bianchin (Coolangatta), Nicholas Brannelly (Macleod), Daniel Bryant (Greensborough), Kane Bannam (Woomelang), Phillip Cubbin (Nagambie), Brent Gallichio (The Basin), Dale Piggott (Glenroy), Colin Ribbons (Glenroy), Luke Shelton (Bundoora)
OUT: Tim Anderson (Craigieburn), Cameron Curlis (Howlong), Rohan Davies (Howlong), Luke Drakes (Craigieburn), Chris Zabrieszach (Thomastown)
Coach says: “He (Rohan Davies) is tough to replace, but he is just one person. We don’t just build a side around one person. I think the one good thing was he led from the front and the way he went about his footy a lot of kids looked up to him."
NORTH HEIDELBERG
Coach: Steve Saddington (new)
Last year: 13 wins – 1 draw – 6 losses (third)
IN: Daniel Ballantyne (Yea), Rory Butterworth (Yea), Lachlan Dowling (Morwell), James Howarth (Yea), Jordan Kruger (Donvale), Marc Lonergan (Yarrawonga), Rami Makhoul (Yea), Patrick McNulty (Morwell), Jeffrey Ryan (Violet Town), Jarrod Spurrell (Norwood), David Taylor (Castlemaine)
OUT: Jason Dean (retired), Blake Holmes (Whitford), Jarrod King (Lalor)
Coach says: “I think (winning a flag is realistic) so that’s what everyone’s goal is obviously. We’ll find out a lot more Round 1. Obviously Fitzroy Stars missed out last year so they’re the side to beat."
PANTON HILL
Coach: Dean Haydock
Last year: 16 wins – 2 losses (Division 3 premier)
IN: Haydn Bryce (St Mary’s), Josh Chapman (St Arnaud), Carson Dawson (Hurstbridge), Tait Forster (Greensborough), Travis Miller (Greensborough)
OUT: Simon Amore (Leitchville) , Nathan Brundell (Reservoir), Nathan Grimshaw (Fitzroy), Lachlan Pearson (Eltham Collegians), Abe Williams (retired), Zac Williams (retired)
INTERESTING STAT: No promoted side from Division 3 has ever been relegated in their first season in Division 2.
