Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League
Team: Keysborough Burras, Casey Cardinia league.
Coach: Greg Siwes.
Home: Rowley Allan Reserve, Cheltenham Road, Keysborough.
KEYSBOROUGH has suffered an interrupted pre-season preparation due to the unavailability of its ground, however recent practice match hit-outs have tuned up the Burra for a round one win over Beaconsfield at the Perc Allison Reserve this Saturday.
Beaconsfield will rely on the progression of players from last season’s triumphant under-18 team, but will be on a learning curve and new Keysborough coach Greg Siwes will be keen to act as the teacher.
Siwes has added several players including Paul Blasius and Daniel Moreland to last year’s good-quality list and the only losses of note are Michael Davis and Kane Tucker.
The club has come out of a controversial 2006 finals series in which then coach Paul Jeffries was sacked without too much scarring and is looking forward to proving that its finals appearance was no one-season wonder.
A good start to the season might be the difference between a top-three finish and slipping back to the pack in what looks like an even season.
Last week’s practice match victory over Casey Cardinia counterpart ROC was the perfect warm-up, and although Keysborough is not yet at full fitness, the Burra should be on their way to a spot in the five and another tilt at the Casey Cardinia league premiership.
Eastern Football League
Team: Noble Park Bulls, EFL Division One.
Coach: Shane Burgmann.
Home: Pat Wright Oval, Moodemere Street, Noble Park.
THE Noble Park Bulls’ have unfinished business in division one of the EFL this season.
But the window of opportunity to win another premiership flag could slam shut if the Bulls are unsuccessful this time around.
After winning back-to-back titles in 2003 and 2004, Vermont has been the perennial thorn in the side of the Bulls, having won the past two premierships.
This season, the average age of the Noble Park side drops, reflecting the departure of a number of experienced players and a significant injection of youth into the team.
Most notably, coach Shane Burgmann has hung up his boots in favour of a full-time coaching spot after his body began to wain during the pre-season.
Burgmann said being able to dedicate all of his time to coaching had opened up a whole new world.
“The body started to give me troubles, mainly my knees, so I’m looking forward to spending the year coaching,” he said.
“Even at training, because I’m not preoccupied with participating in the drills, I can focus more on what is actually going on.”
Ex-Hawthorn player Kris Barlow has joined the Bulls this year and will be Burgmann’s playing assistant coach.
Departing Noble Park is Gavin Vassallo and Mark Williams, both heading to Springvale Districts, Darren Walsh (Chelsea Heights) and Adrian Little.
Ex-Dandenong Stingrays Nick Williams and Ziggy Alwan return to their home club and will add plenty of run and excitement to the Bulls line-up.
Another recruit, Beaconsfield forward Luke McConnell, also has the potential to sneak goals under the radar of the opposition.
The Bulls clash with East Burwood at Pat Wright Oval on Saturday in the first game of the EFL Division One season.
Southern Football League
Team: Lyndale Pumas, SFL Division Two.
Coach: Paul Wilson.
Home: Barry Powell Reserve, Halton Road, Noble Park North.
PAUL Wilson never expected his first season as coach of the Lyndale Pumas would send shockwaves through the club.
The Pumas have just signed their 18th new player after a dramatic pre-season saw several old players depart and a fresh batch of youth arrive.
Kim Aboujaber, Lyndale’s best and fairest in 2006, left the Pumas for the Doveton Doves, while a number of other senior players were released to take up coaching positions elsewhere.
Wilson said the wave of new talent had presented a number of exciting challenges.
“We’ve picked up some great new players,” he said.
“Christian Egan and Scott Miller have joined us from the Doves, Tim Lovell comes across from the Doveton Eagles and David Abbott has made the move from the Sandown Cobras.”
With a core group of new recruits, Wilson said the Pumas could take a few rounds to hit full stride.
“Our practice match form has been great, but this is a new beginning for the Lyndale Pumas. It will take us a few weeks to start linking up and to gel, but the aim is to win round one,” he said.
The Pumas play Parkmore Pirates first up.
“We’ve got a tough start to the season. The RSL Cup game against Springvale Districts is played in round four,” Wilson said.
Team: Springvale Districts, SFL Division Two.
Coach: Stephen Hughes.
Home: Springvale Reserve, Newcomen Reserve, Springvale.
“ALL I’m interested in is round one.”
It’s a common football cliche, but Springvale Districts coach Stephen Hughes is treating it as gospel.
Hughes has his sights set on exacting winning revenge in round one against Oakleigh, which belted Springvale in round 18 last year.
“It’s going to be a perfect way to measure exactly where we are at,” he said.
“We’ve lost some players, but have picked up some quality talent as well, so it will definitely give us a clear indication of where we are headed.”
Springvale lost Adam Quinn, who will coach Division Two newcomer Dingley this season, and will also be without Daniel Atkin.
Former Noble Park pair Mark Williams and Gavin Vassallo have both joined the Springvale Districts ranks.
Darin ‘Big Show’ Joyce will also play on, but is recovering from a knee injury.
On his day, Joyce can win a game and has a striking physical presence that is invaluable to the Springvale line-up.
Springvale Districts will host the first game of the SFL season, kicking into action at 6pm on Friday night against Oakleigh under the lights of Springvale Reserve.
Springvale president Doug Pearce said the Demons’ home ground was looking better and better each day and the night match would be an exciting time for the club.
“The ground is much better than it was,” Pearce said.
“Hosting a night match as the first game of the season will be great. We’re hoping to see the local crowd get behind it.”
Hughes said he wasn’t interested in talking about expectations and finals football, but was firmly focused on getting the job done in round one.
“There’s a buzz around the club. All we want to do is get off to a great start,” he said.
Team: Parkmore Pirates, SFL Division Two.
Coach: Neil Collett.
Home: Wachter Reserve, Wahroonga Avenue, Keysborough.
PARKMORE is the unknown of the Division Two competition, and that’s exactly how coach Neil Collett wants it to stay.
The 2006 Division Three premiership team will sail into the new season with a number of new faces and with the intention of winning a number of games – starting with round one.
“We’re serious about beating Lyndale first up,” Collett said.
“We’ll be unfurling the premiership flag at Wachter Reserve and will be showcasing a number of new players and plenty of talent.”
The Pirates have recruited Stan and Malcolm Wanganeen and Hampton Park player Shaun Dishington.
Parkmore has yet to step foot on Wachter Reserve, a ground which Collett described as looking “very good”.
“It’s been a very long pre-season, if you could call it that,” he said.
“But the spirit amongst the group has been great.
“We’ve played practice matches and the skill work at training have been improving every session.
“It will be great to finally get onto our home ground.”
With Lyndale fielding a predominantly new playing list under new coach Paul Wilson, could the Pirates cause a swashbuckling upset in round one?
Team: Dingley Dingoes, SFL Division Two.
Coach: Adam Quinn.
Home: Souter Oval, Marcus Road, Dingley.
A NEW coach, new league, new players and new sponsors have reinvented the Dingley Dingoes this season.
But can the SFL newcomer turn the tide on last year’s winless season in the Casey-Cardinia competition?
New coach Adam Quinn definitely thinks so.
“If we didn’t play finals football, I’d be disappointed,” he said.
“Finals is where we want to be this year.”
With 58 players on the roster, including a number of new faces, Quinn said the 2007 season was about winning some respect back from the football community.
“Dingley has been through some tough times in recent years, but that’s all been forgotten about. We’re focusing on success this season,” he said.
The Dingoes’ pre-season form has great, winning practice matches against Division Two rivals Lyndale and Murrumbeena.
Brett Gniel returns to Dingley as a playing assistant coach, while Tony Lavars, Clinton Brooks, Chris Morgan and Andrew Frost will add some depth to the senior side.
Quinn said coaching represented a new challenge, but that was the main reason he joined the Dingoes.
“It’s going to be a tough task learning a lot of the tactical sort of stuff, but I’m ready for and it’s an exciting time for the club,” he said.
Dingley kicks off its season against the Moorabbin Kangaroos at Widdop Crescent Reserve in Moorabbin on Saturday.
Team: Dandenong Demons, SFL Division Three.
Coach: Mick Hawken.
Home: Greaves Reserve, Bennett Street, Dandenong.
A LATE-season winning streak was not enough to secure a finals spot for the Dandenong Demons last year, so coach Mick Hawken has a new philosophy in 2007.
“Win games and win them early,” he said.
But a 20-player exodus in the off-season has the Demons fielding a much younger team than years gone by.
“We’ve got a number of new players, there’s plenty of friends of friends in the group and a couple have never played football before, but there’s plenty of talent,” Hawken said.
“We’re confident we can keep improving and doing well.”
Goal-kicker Bill Jessop will roam the forward-line allowing the experienced Robbie Westin to play a bit further up the ground.
Ex-Moorabbin Kangaroo Eddie Connor has joined the Demons and is capable of kicking a goal or two, according to Westin.
One thing is certain in season 2007 for the Dandenong – it won’t be short of motivation.
The Demons will have the rev-up services of super middleweight boxer Sam ‘The King’ Soliman, who is the club’s number one ticket holder for season 2007.
Club president Stuart McGregor said Soliman was present at a number of Dandenong’s matches at Greaves Reserve last year and even offered some pre-match words of motivation.
“The boys really responded well last year when he gave a pre-match speech at a couple games,” he said.
Soliman was present at the club’s jumper presentation on Saturday night and is set to become a familiar face around Greaves Reserve this season.
Team: Doveton Eagles, SFL Division Three.
Coach: Jason Salerno.
Home: Power Reserve, Power Road, Doveton.
DOVETON Eagles coach Jason Salerno is doing his best to keep a lid on the excitement bubbling away at Power Reserve this year.
After enduring one of the toughest season that the proud club has ever experienced, coach Paul Davis returned to the position of club president and Salerno was appointed coach for this year.
The Eagles recruiting has been exceptional with a number of new and experienced players joining the nest.
Ex-Caulfield coach Shane Mottram and ex-Lyndale player Brett Colbert will take the field as assistant coaches for the Eagles.
Doveton Doves Daryl Thomas and Peter Dye also make the cross-town switch to the Eagles.
Salerno said he wasn’t prepared to talk up the Eagles’ chances this season, but was comfortable with the progress the squad was making.
“I’m not coming out saying win, win, win, but we’ll really be competitive and have a big crack at it this season,” he said.
“We’ve picked up plenty of talent, including six under-18 players from Rowville.
“It’s probably an even mix of youth and experience, which is a great place to be,” Salerno said.
The Eagles clash with Mt Waverley in the opening round of Division Three and Salerno said he expected a tough game.
“Mt Waverley have had a pretty sturdy team the past few years, they are an experienced side and are probably ready to peak this season,” he said.
Team: Sandown Cobras, SFL Division Three.
Coach: Michael Allen.
Home: Edinburgh Reserve, Edinburgh Road, Springvale.
IF the Sandown Cobras win six games this season, new coach Michael Allen would be satisfied.
But after a winless 2006, any number of wins would represent a marked improvement for the Cobras.
Allen, who departed North Kew when that club combined with Kew at the end of last year, gave a frank assessment of his expectations and detailed what had been a tough pre-season.
“We lost a lot of players from last year’s reserves team,” he said.
“Most of them retired, we struggled with training numbers earlier this season, but things have picked up since we have been allowed to get back onto our home ground.”
The Cobras have recruited ex-Nar Nar Goon full-forward Clint Sheedy and Simon Foster from Rowville, who will play on the ball.
Allen has been doing his best to find out as much as he can about the Cobras’ round one opponent, Cerberus.
“Unfortunately they are located on a navy base, so it’s hard to spy on them,” he laughed.
Sandown hosts Cerberus at Edinburgh Reserve on Saturday.
