WOORINEN
PROFILE
After a straight sets exit from last year’s finals series, Woorinen will be hoping redemption comes in the form of former club champions.
Returning to the Tigers’ den this season are former players Arnold Kirby, Josh Stone, Tom Langford and Clayton McCartney, with the quartet not only bringing class and depth to some key deficiencies of Woorinen’s last year, but also plenty of experience to a relatively young squad.
For Tigers coach Marcus Demaria, who will return for his tenth straight season in charge, it’s that extra layer of experience that is hoped could change his team’s fortunes at the business end of the competition.
“Even though we’ve had some key departures, with the players that we’ve brought in and with a 10 to 15 per cent improvement from the rest of the squad, we feel like we’re in a pretty good position to compete again,” Demaria said.
“Tom Langford, for example, will be a huge plus for us. He won’t be the same player that he was when he was last here, because he’s a little bit older now, but he’ll make us a three or four goal better side without even touching the footy, just with his leadership and guidance and everything he does off the ball.”
The other big recruit, both figuratively and physically, is Arnold Kirby, with the Tigers ruckman returning after plying his trade with Sebastopol last season and with the Waratahs in the NTFL this summer.
With Kirby expected to take over the ruck duties, his return will release Lachie Gardner to play up forward, according to Demaria, and help fill a gaping hole in the Tigers’ line-up that was one of the key factors in their poor finals showing last year.
“One thing we lacked all last year was having that key target up forward,” Demaria said.
“Come finals time, we actually looked for a makeshift ruckman instead of a forward, which ended up being Ben Hunt, just so we could release Lachie (Gardner) forward.
“Now with Arnie (Kirby) back, that enables us to have at least one of the them down there permanently.
“Our forward line will be a lot more potent as a result, with Will Collicoat, Clayton McCartney and Josh Stone down there as well.
“They can all present and take a mark, as well as cover the ground, which is what we want because we’ll probably change the way we play and the way our forward set up is with the players coming further up the ground.”
While their new recruits should have the Tigers faithful bullish about the season ahead, they have also suffered some key departures, with veteran midfielder Robbie Miller returning to Laharum, defender Angus Butterfield going across to Birchip-Watchem and Danko Bzenic, Tom Isma and Bailey Fry also seeking fresh starts.
The one that could hurt the most is Dylan Godwin, with the classy onballer finishing sixth in Woorinen’s best and fairest last season, although Demaria is confident his midfield is well placed to attack the 2024 season head on.
“We’ll have plenty of depth in the midfield with guys like Jye (Barry), ‘Doey’ (Josh Domaille), ‘Warby’ (Lachlan Warburton), Tom Langford, Josh Stone and Mitch Uhlhorn running through there,” Demaria said.
“One area we needed to beef up was our midfield and I think we’ve achieved that – the boys have put in a lot of work throughout pre-season and I think we’ll see plenty of improvement.”
FROM THE COACH
“We want to get ourselves to a grand final ultimately, that’s always the aim as it is for every team. Our intentions are to always make the grand final and win the flag, whether we do or not that’s a different story, but I think at our best we are certainly capable of achieving that goal.”
INS & OUTS
INS
Arnold Kirby (Sebastopol)
Josh Stone (Tyntynder)
Tom Langford (Waverley Blues)
Clayton McCartney (Oak Park)
Mitchell Whitfield (Lake Boga)
Luke Merrett (Northcote Park)
Jack Hughes (Moama)
OUTS
Matt King (Tyntynder)
Patrick Veszpremi (Melton South)
Robbie Miller (Laharum)
Danko Bzenic (Avondale Heights)
Angus Butterfield (Birchip-Watchem)
Charlie King (Strathfieldsaye)
Tom Isma (Swan Hill)
Dylan Godwin (Bell Post Hill)
Bailey Fry (Cairns)
Mitchel Taylor (Stawell)
Austin McKerrow (Murrabit)
Cal Lyons (Tyntynder)
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024
Despite losing several players over the off season, Woorinen should once again be aiming for finals in 2024, having also recruited well. The Tigers face a tough start to the season, with games against last year’s top three Kerang, Balranald and NNW United, as well as a much-improved Cohuna in their first six games.
The return of Arnold Kirby is a major plus and will help with their ball movement around the ground, while the additions of Tom Langford and Clayton McCartney should add depth to their forward line, which was their achilles heel last season.
The Tigers play a well drilled style, pressing opposition teams in defence and then maintaining possession when on the attack, but with disappointing finals exits the past two seasons, we should see some tweaks to their game plan.
KEY PLAYER
Jye Barry – Is a multiple Woorinen best and fairest winner, having claimed the award after another dominant season in 2023. His speed from the stoppage gives Woorinen’s midfield a point of difference and rarely wastes the ball when in possession.
Has become one of the Central Murray’s premier midfielders in recent years and will need to be at his best if the Tigers are to push deeper into September.
BIG IMPROVER
Henry Thompson – Had a breakout season in 2023, finishing fourth in Woorinen’s best and fairest and becoming one of his teams’ most important defenders in the process. Has taken on a role in the Tigers leadership group this season and has taken his game to another level, with a potential push for midfield minutes on the cards for Thompson.
THE BURNING QUESTION
How do Woorinen best manage the Arnold Kirby/Lachie Gardner ruck combination?
I don’t think it’s a coincidence that after playing the majority of last season in the ruck, Lachie Gardner returned to his best form, finishing third in the Tigers best and fairest.
Gardner dominated as Woorinen’s sole ruckman, and even though he pushed forward to play as a marking target late in the season, it was in the middle where he produced his best.
But with the return of Kirby, who could well be the best ruckman in the competition, what now for Gardner?
Clearly he plays forward, as Woorinen are crying out for a key forward who can take a contested mark, but does he play permanently forward, or is it Kirby that plays out of the square – or a combination of both?
It will be interesting to watch how the Tigers handle the situation, albeit a positive problem to have.
WOORINEN PREDICTED BEST 22
B. Matthew Gardner – Ben Booth – Henry Thompson
HB. Otto Conlan – Doug Beames – Tom Langford
C. Mitch Uhlhorn – Lachlan Warburton – Taylor Cameron
HF. Josh Stone – Lachlan Gardner – Adam Saunders
F. Daniel Mase – William Collicoat – Clayton McCartney
R. Arnold Kirby – Josh Domaille – Jye Barry
INT. Hugh Thompson – Will Rush – Mitchell Whitfield – Tahj Bolton
