The 2017 Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 season kicks off this week.
Nine teams will compete this season, the most since the inception of the Division 3 competition.
Six years after joining the NFL’s junior competition, Laurimar makes its senior debut this season, while Reservoir returns to the field after going into recess in 2016.
The opening round matches are:
Heidelberg West v Mernda
Laurimar v Kilmore
Reservoir v Banyule
St Mary’s v Epping
Bye – South Morang
Continue below to see all the key ins and outs from each Heidelberg Golf Club Division 3 team over the off-season.
Banyule
Coach: Pete Davey (new)
Last year: 6 wins – 12 losses (6th)
IN: Ben Embleton (Waratah), Scott Gumbleton (returning), Lachlan James (Kew), Riley Keath (Leitchville Gunbower), James Kroussoratis (Shepparton Swans), Kane Lofts (Seymour), Kieran Malone (Eltham) Matthew Yarwood (Macleod)
OUT: James Black (Oakleigh District), David Bedggood (Oakleigh District), Alex Carapetis (Canterbury), Luke Giles (Lake Boga), Beau Parthenides (Glen Waverley), David Rigney (Violet Town) Chris Varsamakis (Quambatook)
Coach says: “There are going to be one or two players that are name players that outsiders will know of that are coming into the club. (But) my aim is to really build the club from within. The 19s have been good for a number of years now and there is obviously a lot of talent coming through there. I want to nurture the guys coming through and make sure that they’re hopefully career Banyule players.”
Epping
Coach: Greg Whitcroft
Last year: 14 wins – 6 losses (runner-up)
IN: Jake Conway (South Morang), Ash Flavel (Glenroy), Jonathan Henderson (Rumbalara), Andrew Luzza (West Preston-Lakeside), Guneyt Ozusen (North Heidelberg), Gus Selaidinakos (Casterton Sandford), Glen Widdicombe (Therry Penola)
OUT: Joel Carter (Mernda), Mitch Henwood (Lalor), Christian Janev (Watsonia), Harley Nancarrow (Lalor)
Coach says: “After falling short in the grand final, pre-season has been fairly solid with some new recruits in Andrew Luzza and Ash Flavel joining the club. This experience plus improvement in our youngsters Jason Stavely and Dallyce Taylor with other young guys who are still improving will hopefully hold the team in good stead.”
Heidelberg West
Coach: Gary Cutler (new)
Last year: 1 win – 17 losses (8th)
IN: Daniel Ballantyne (North Heidelberg), Justin Bentley (North Heidelberg), Paul Brown (Lalor), Jarryd Coulson (Heidelberg), Ben Kennan (Heidelberg), Masaki Miki (Heidelberg), Harley Mozdzierz (Heidelberg), Zach Tranter (Eltham Collegians)
OUT: Brad Moore (Bundoora), Trent O’Rourke (Laurimar), Stephen Tsonas (Laurimar)
Coach says: “We have to change that perception of ourselves. I don’t want people to be picking the fixture up and saying ‘When do we play West?’ I want them to be thinking ‘Gee I’m not looking forward to playing West.’”
Kilmore
Coach: Nathan Phillips
Last year: 2 wins – 16 losses (7th)
IN: Matt Bulluss (Broadford), Luke Chapman (Werribee Districts), Lachlan Gough (Greensborough), Leigh Irons (Bonnie Doon), Brad Kite (Wallan), Billy McKeown (North Heidelberg), Thomas McMillan (Bonnie Doon), Wade Zolnierczyk (Broadford)
OUT: Darcy Bedggood (Lancefield)
Club says: “Nathan Phillips has worked extremely hard since his appointment, putting together a competitive list and having them well drilled and fit for the 2017 season. After seeing the host of new recruits and talented young locals in action during the practice matches, (we) believe the senior footballers will be highly competitive this year.
Laurimar
Coach: Wayne Sharkie (new)
Last year: New to senior competition
IN: Jackson Cecil (Old Ivanhoe Grammarians), Adam Dennis (Karingal), Trent O’Rourke (Heidelberg West), Dale Piggott (Glenroy), Damian Pywell (Kinglake), Stephen Tsonas (Heidelberg West), Lance Whitnall (Glenroy)
Coach says: “There’s definitely an air of expectancy building as we get closer to the date. Things are looking good. We have got heaps of numbers on the track. We have got a good mix of size, youth and speed. We definitely won’t be small by any stretch of the imagination.”
Mernda
Coach: Steven Power (new)
Last year: 12 wins – 6 losses (5th)
IN: Joel Carter (Epping), Daniel Cobbett (Lalor), Josh Nixon (Kinglake), Nathan Thomas (Avenel)
OUT: Anthony Cardamone (Watsonia), Luke Drakes (Eltham Collegians), Thomas McIntosh (Glenroy), Bill Samie (South Morang)
Coach says: “I’ve got a good feel for the group and the club, having been here last year. It allowed me to get to know the club. There’s family history at the club. My father was captain and coached the club. I played here in 2001 and 2002. It’s sort of an honour to coach the club my father was coach and player at.”
Reservoir
Coach: Aaron Collins (new)
Last year: Relegated from Division 2 after going into recess
IN: Josh Alexander (Lara), Kent Beaumont (Preston Bullants), Casey Brown (North Heidelberg), Ryan Docherty (North Heidelberg), David McGregor (Port Melbourne), Matt Mickleson (Roxburgh Park), Nathan Mittica (South Morang), Ben Noy (Hill End)
Coach says: “We’re just trying to be competitive then we will build on that. We’re trying to put together a group of players who have never met each other. You’ve got your small groups of three or four who have come with each other, but we’re trying to get a group of blokes to gel to form a senior side. That’s going to be the hardest part.”
South Morang
Coach: Dean Grainger
Last year: 13 wins – 7 losses (3rd)
IN: Darren Gresham (Parkside), Anthony Calafiore (Thomastown), Alex Colaidis (Hadfield), Luke Jackson (Quambatook), Brad Kinnane (Diamond Creek), Sam Nasra (Hadfield), Raafat Rachrache (Hadfield), Bill Samie (Mernda)
OUT: Michael Celestin (North Heidelberg), Jake Conway (Epping), Daniel Heatley (unavailable), Jason Kelly (Lalor)
Coach says: “I know Raaf, I’ve seen him play before and from what I’ve seen in the past, his record speaks for itself. You don’t get those blokes falling out of trees and to have him come to the club is fantastic. We would probably be looking at him playing a variety of roles. He’s got a good size about him, he will certainly be able to handle himself through the midfield.”
St Mary’s
Coach: Con Borg
Last year: 12 wins – 7 losses (4th)
IN: Anthony Bryce (Panton Hill), Joel Buckley (Glenroy), Shannan Ciavarella (Epping), Leigh Sullivan (Glenroy), Bart Walsh (Leitchville Gunbower)
OUT: Sean Desmond (Eltham), James Ind, Joel Tolli (Eltham)
Coach says: “(Early in pre-season) the boys have been training in their own little groups with running programs to do, and it’s worked exactly the way we wanted it to with training attendance up 33 percent. That way they can choose their own training times around work or other commitments. It’s been good for everyone I think. It’s refreshed the guys up and it’s definitely freshened me up.”
