WITH the start of the much-anticipated MVPA Weekend Pennant finally here, The Guardian thought what better way to kick off the new season than by taking a deep dive into all six Division 1 clubs – and chatting with their presidents about their prospects of success in 2021-22
LAKE BOGA
PRESIDENT – Ken Hamill
LAST SEASON – Fifth
INS – N/A
OUTS – N/A
2021-22 SKIPPERS – Ken Hamill, Peter Philp, Ray Wilson
WORDS FROM THE PRESIDENT – Ken Hamill
What are your expectations for this season?
“We’ll probably struggle against the top teams like Murray Downs, Racecourse and Swan Hill, but we’ll still be competitive and give them a run for their money and will be certainly going out there to win each week.
“Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat?
“Will probably be out of the three Swan Hill teams I would imagine, Murray Downs are always very strong, but so too are Racecourse and Swan Hill.
“If we are to win the premiership, it will be because…
“We’ve all played to the best of our ability and have had an even contribution from the entire club.
“MOULAMEIN
PRESIDENT – Ian Beasy
LAST SEASON – Sixth
INS – N/A
OUTS – N/A
2021-22 SKIPPERS – N/A
WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT
Ian BeasyWhat are your expectations for this season?
“We’ve got high expectations for this season, our Division One team looks like it will probably be up there again – as long as everything stays as it is currently with regards to border closures and the like.
“We’ve got quite a good group of players and I think we should do quite well.
“Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat?
“It’s always Murray Downs, they’re always the team to beat for me.
“If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of…
“Hard work and commitment.”
MURRAY DOWNS
PRESIDENT – Garry McCaig
LAST SEASON – Runner Up
INS – Chris Power (Racecourse), Matt O’Bree (Swan Hill)
OUTS – Brian Mansbridge (Swan Hill), Cain Skerry, Stephen Arthur
2021-22 SKIPPERS – Josh Thornton, Brian Lehmann, John Caldwell
WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT
Garry McCaig
What are your expectations for this season?
“Our expectations are to win, we’re sick of being the bridesmaids, we’ve been beaten by the narrowest of margins for the last two seasons in the Grand Final and we’ll definitely be out there to win it this year.
“Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat?
“Probably Racecourse, they’re always ultra-competitive and tough to beat.
“If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of…
“Josh Thornton, Buck Lehmann and John Caldwell and their prowess as skippers – it’s the skippers game. Also, the fact that we’ll probably have a bit more consistency in the lower positions in each team.
NYAH DISTRICT
PRESIDENT – Kent Coburn
LAST SEASON – Semi Finalist
INS – N/A
OUTS – Mick Holyoak (Racecourse), Jack Sharman, Luke Jessup
2021-22 SKIPPERS – Bryan Smith, Rex ‘Kiwi’ Howard, Graham Muir.
WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT
Kent Coburn
What are your expectations for this season?
“In a word, rebuilding.
“With both First and Fourth Division, we require twenty players and with people unavailable at different times, we really need around 26 players and that’s where we’re at.
“We have four first year players coming into the club, three of which are very young, as in 14 and 15 year olds, although they are practicing like they’re quite handy – they are the club’s future.
“Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat?
“It’s very hard to go past Murray Downs, they’re always strong and always competitive.
“If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of…
“A mass COVID-19 breakout wiping out the opposition”
RACECOURSE
PRESIDENT – Norm Smith
LAST SEASON – Semi Finalist
INS – Mick Holyoak (Nyah District), Mikaela Evans, Kylie Gardner
OUT’S – Chris Power (Murray Downs)
2021-22 SKIPPERS – Mick Holyoak, Norm Smith, Mark Snel
WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT
Norm Smith
What are your expectations for this season?
“We’ll go alright, we’ll finish in the top couple with a bit of luck and then we’ll take it from there.”
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat?
“Murray Downs are the measuring stick – they haven’t lost a game, with the exceptions of the two Grand Finals.”
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of…
“Our new look, younger team.
“We’ve got a younger looking side and they’ve practicing over the winter months – we’re quietly confident that we’ll go alright.”
SWAN HILL PRESIDENT – Brian Richardson
LAST SEASON – Premiers
INS – Brian Mansbridge (Murray Downs)
OUT’S – Matt O’Bree (Murray Downs), Glenn Scott, Murray Fazulla, Brody Harker
2021-22 SKIPPERS – Brian Mansbridge, Lyndon Shadbolt, Gary McGrath
WORD FROM THE PRESIDENT
Brian Richardson
What are your expectations for this season?
“We expect to be competitive – we’ve lost quite a number of players but we’re a very competitive club.
“Whilst we anticipate that we’ll have a few different names in the First Division, we still expect everyone to be very competitive.”
Other than yourselves, who is the team to beat?
“I think Murray Downs are the team to beat, along with Racecourse as well – they’ve been the two best teams for a few years now, and it will be interesting to see how competitive we are against them.”
If we are to win the premiership, it will be because of…
“Our team – we have a strong team and we’ve had good results over the last few seasons and we know how to get it done.”
