By ROY WARD
ASHWOOD
Coach: Paul Wineberg.
Arrivals: Jarryd Uren (Chelsea Heights), Tim Grant (Chelsea Heights).
Departures: Chris Hanns (Chelsea Heights), Gavin Blizzard (NTAFL)
One to watch: Matt Maginnes, made the top-10 in the league best and fairest last season and the Woods will hope to get even more service from Maginnes this season.
Chances: Ashwood will want to make a move up the ladder this season but it won’t be easy with several sides looking to have improved, none the less a few early wins could be all they need to rise.
Roy Ward says: Ashwood is a hard side to get a read on but teams that want to play finals will know they need to make sure they beat the Woods.
BLACK ROCK
Coach: John Burke.
Arrivals: Jack Coleman (VAFA), James Nicholson (VAFA).
Departures: Declan Harrington (St Kilda City), Bradley Kilgore (VAFA).
One to watch: Cory Durie – Skilled midfielder who should excel against division 3 midfields.
Chances: Unless injuries set in, Black Rock should be around the mark come finals time but no other division 3 club will take them lightly.
Roy Ward says: Expect plenty of spies at Black Rock’s first few matches as no one knows what to expect from the former division 2 club, on first look they should be a lock for the finals.
CARRUM PATTERSON LAKES
Coach: Andrew Lucas.
Captain: To be announced.
Arrivals: Everyone.
Departures: None.
One to watch: Jarrod Williams will get his chance to shine with the Lions, if his practice match form is anything to go on, he should be in for a good year.
Chances: Hard to know what to expect from the new boys but with good numbers and high emotions in the early rounds they could cause a few upsets.
Roy Ward says: Don’t take the Lions lightly this year and look out in the years ahead, as they want to build a big football club.
DANDENONG
Coach: Daniel Atkin.
Captains: Ryan Forsyth and Chris Hatfield.
Arrivals: David Behan (Murrembeena), Dale Jose (Doveton), Warren Kairns (Riddell DFL).
Departures: Andrew Morris (Heatherton).
One to watch: Kevin Atkin, full-forward ruckman who should be more effective with added depth to the side.
Chances: The Redlegs believe they have added experience and size to their team and after three practice match wins, perhaps they could be ready for a run at the finals.
Daniel Atkin says: “We know we are coming from a long way back but we were competitive in a lot of games last year, we have added six to seven quality people to our side and haven’t lost anyone.”
DOVETON EAGLES
Coach: Paul Davis.
Captain: To be announced.
Arrivals: Brett Hidgcock (Alberton FNL), Nathan Wilson (Doveton), Clint Wilson (Doveton), Peter Dye (Doveton).
Departures: Brian Grundy (Lyndale).
One to watch: Clint Wilson, experienced ruckman who will also size and experience to the Eagles’ midfield.
Chances: The Wilsons will give the Eagles much needed height with Clint to ruck and Nathan to play centre half-forward, with fleet-footed runners and the return of two-time best and fairest Brett Hidgcock, expect big things from the Eagles.
Paul Davis says: “To finish minor premiers then bow out without winning a final was very hard on us. We couldn’t stop the guys training over November and December, we will give it our best shot this season.”
ENDEAVOUR HILLS
Coach: Michael Roberts.
Captain: To be announced.
Arrivals: David Bickers (Upper Ferntree Gully), Michael Burke (Rowville).
Departures: Trent Day (Lyndale), Corey Ladson (VAFA).
One to watch: Brendan Robinson is one of the more consistent players in the division and his work will help fire his club this season.
Chances: After two years in the SFL, this could be the year Endeavour Hills pushes up the ladder, with a solid list and good pre-season they could be the big improver.
Roy Ward says: Endeavour Hills knows the league and knows what it needs to do to be competitive, word is the club has had a good preseason so perhaps that could turn into early wins.
HALLAM HAWKS
Coach: Hayden Fredricks.
Captain: Kieran Smith.
Arrivals: Dan Maskiell (Sandown Cobras).
Departures: No major departures.
One to watch: Kieran Smith led from the front last year and throughout the pre-season, a smart half back who links well with teammates.
Chances: Hallam enters its second season with a third senior side so it has plenty of players. If they can beat their first season tally of three weeks, the Hawks will consider that a success.
Hayden Fredricks says: “We want to be raising the bar each week and improve on three wins from last season. Hopefully, we can win more than we lose.”
LYNDALE
Coach: Rodney Benstead.
Captain: To be announced.
Arrivals: Trent Day (Endeavour Hills), Brian Grundy (Doveton Eagles).
Departures: Glen Krepp (Yarra Valley MDFL).
One to watch: Trent Day had a big year with Endeavour Hills last season until injury struck late in the season, he could prove an inspired signing.
Chances: The only way is up for the Pumas after a disappointing 2012. But the list looks stronger and with a few familiar faces returning to the club, expect an improved side this season.
Roy Ward says: Improvement is certain but finals still looks a hard ask, although a few early wins could change that.
MT WAVERLEY
Coach: Nick Smith.
Captain: Jarrod Wilkin.
Arrivals: None listed.
Departures: Jason D’Cruze (EFL), Ian Taylor (EFL).
One to watch: James Gough had some big games at full-forward last year and with a more organised team, he could be even more effective.
Chances: A VFL player and assistant coach, Smith brings new energy to the Mountain Lions and he expects his side to go all the way this season. After several years getting close to the mark perhaps this year is their time although Sandown, Doveton and Black Rock could all have something to say about that.
Nick Smith says: “I’m confident I have 30-35 guys who are learning and showing enough to play senior footy this season, finals is a definite expectation just on previous years and I want us to be the best drilled team in the league, if we do that we will be in the finals.”
SANDOWN
Coach: Mick Rossborough.
Captains: Jason Toan and Dan Macklin
Arrivals: Mitch Gersbeck (Cranbourne), Lucas Ligt (Cranbourne), Shane Adams (Cranbourne), Nick Morrish (Cranbourne).
Departures: Shay Ferguson (Sale), Dan Maskiell (Hallam).
One to watch: Nick Morrish is a tall, athletic ruckman who will give the Cobras a different look and more running capacity from midfield.
Chances: The Cobras were stung by last year’s grand final loss and should be a deeper and better side while the likes of Toan and league medallist Macklin should see them contend for the premiership again.
Mick Rossborough says: “We will be a better team no doubt but with Black Rock coming down and Doveton Eagles looking strong, it will be a new competition so we won’t know where we stand until it starts.”
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