Footy is back and it is hard to imagine a better way to kick off the 2017 Meadows Greyhounds Division 1 season.
Reigning premier Heidelberg starts the season with a trip to J.E Moore Park to take on a new-look West Preston-Lakeside outfit that could prove to be one of the Tigers’ biggest challengers in their bid for back-to-back flags.
The Roosters enter a new era under favourite son Robbie Mairoana. The former best and fairest winner and premiership player has made an immediate impact at his former club since signing on as coach in October.
Over the past six months two-time Geelong premiership forward Mathew Stokes, Carlton 200-gamer Andrew Walker and former St Kilda forward and VFL leading goal kicker Ahmed Saad have all made J.E. Moore Park home.
The former AFL trio join a side that already contains the likes of Patrick Karnezis, Shaun Gannon and Luke Lirosi, meaning the Roosters’ top-end talent is now as good as any in the competition.
After four years without a finals appearance, the Roosters look primed to make significant strides forward in 2017.
While Mairona has been quick to quash any bold finals statements, it is hard to not be excited about what the season holds for his West Preston-Lakeside side.
They start the season with the ultimate test, but a win over the reigning premier in Round 1 would further confirm the Roosters’ status as a leading contender this year.
Heidelberg has also enjoyed a fruitful off-season after last year breaking a seven-year premiership drought.
The Tigers have strengthened their list with the addition of Hawthorn and Essendon key forward Sam Grimley and Shepparton United’s Shaun Huy, and the return of 2015 best and fairest Michael Looby.
While the club’s best 22 looks stronger than last year, they have also lost three key players from the 2016 premiership team.
Mercurial forward Dan Connors has this week submitted a clearance to Kambalda, while Jarrod and Luke Hodgkin have moved to Wodonga and Taylors Lakes respectively.
The Tigers also face the prospect of being without gun ruckman Sam Gilmore for the opening half of the year, while a number of last year’s reserves premiership team have also left for senior opportunities elsewhere.
However creating more depth is a challenge co-coach Jason Heatley welcomed.
“Guys like Jake McNamara, Chaz Sargeant, Dan Cookson all these guys should be ripping the door down to play week in, week out senior footy,” Heatley said.
The strong leadership of Charles Gaylard and Heatley would not have allowed any complacency to build over the summer.
The Tigers understand the difficulties recent Division 1 premiers have endured defending their crown and will be hungry to make an early statement on day one of the 2017 season.
This weekend’s season-opener is a blockbuster and looms as a game that could define the 2017 season.
West Preston-Lakeside
Coach: Rob Maiorana (new)
Last year: 8 wins – 10 losses (7th)
IN: Jackson Clarke (Wangaratta), Niall McDonagh (Elmore), Ahmed Saad (Coburg), Mathew Stokes (Essendon), Andrew Walker (Carlton), Dyllon Westra (Sunshine)
OUT: Matthew Belbasis (Keilor), Rhett Jordon (Norwood), Joseph Tegart (Queanbeyan)
Coach says: “The main objective will be to improve on last year. There are no big statements of making finals and grand finals – it’s a little bit of a reset around the place to make sure that we’re improving the culture, the leadership, the standards, professionalism and we’re hoping that with that, the footy results will take care of themselves.”
Heidelberg
Coaches: Charles Gaylard and Jason Heatley
Last year: 17 wins – 4 losses (Premier)
IN: Luke Bunker (Lower Plenty), Sam Grimley (Essendon), Shaun Huy (Shepparton United), Michael Looby (returned), Myles Smythe (Swan Athletic), Jake Truefeldt (returned)
OUT: Dan Connors (Kambalda), Jarrod Hodgkin (Wodonga), Luke Hodgkin (Taylors Lakes), James Magner (Berwick), Masaki Miki (Heidelberg West), Dale Nolan (Lower Plenty), Allan Young (Watsonia)
Coach says: “It’s extremely hard to go back-to-back as we’ve seen over the past seven to eight years. We’re definitely putting in the hard yards and we really want to achieve that this year. It’s going to be highly competitive though.” – Charles Gaylard
HEAD TO HEAD IN 2016
Round 12: Heidelberg 20.9 (129) def West Preston-Lakeside 9.5 (59)
Heidelberg
Goals: C. Sargeant 4, L. Wilson 3, A. Symes 3, D. Connors 2, C. Gaylard 2, T. Sullivan, R. Stone, B. Irving, M. Marigliani, J. McNamara, M. Pianto
Best: T. Sullivan, M. Marigliani, C. Sargeant, L. Wilson, M. Brunelli, C. Gaylard
West Preston-Lakeside
Goals: N. Valladares 2, M. Vincitorio, L. Lirosi, K. Waari, C. Belbasis, L. McVeigh, B. Sanderson, J. Ramaekers
Best: B. Sanderson, D. Rodan, L. Lirosi, J. McDonald, A. Fahour, L. McVeigh
Round 4: West Preston-Lakeside 8.11 (59) def by Heidelberg 14.17 (101)
West Preston-Lakeside
Goals: P. Karnezis 3, M. Vincitorio, J. Tegart, J. Thorpe, B. Dufficy, L. Lirosi
Best: S. Gannon, P. Karnezis, K. Simpson, T. O’Neill, A. Fahour, L. Lirosi
Heidelberg
Goals: C. Gaylard 4, R. Stone 3, J. Magner 3, B. Kerton 2, J. Hodgkin, N. Miller
Best: C. Gaylard, C. Lewis, B. Cosgriff, P. Bower, R. Stone, J. Hodgkin
