LAKE BOGA
FAST FACTS
PROFILE
A mass exodus of senior players looks set to end the Magpies’ two-year finals streak in 2024, with the club instead turning to youth under new coach Dean Helmers.
Since suffering a 44-point defeat in last year’s elimination final against NNW United, Lake Boga have undergone some serious changes, with up to 19 senior players from last season departing the club, along with senior coaches Shawn Filo and Angus Monfries. The departures of Filo and Monfries has seen Dean Helmers take over the reins this season, with the experienced coach set to lead his third Central Murray club after stints at the Mallee Eagles and Tooleybuc-Manangatang.
But a shift in leadership won’t be the only change for the black and white army in 2024, with the club also heading in a new direction with their playing list, and Helmers keen to help guide Lake Boga’s next generation through the early stages of their senior careers.
“We’re most likely going to be the youngest side in the competition this season by a long way, I would imagine,” Helmers said.
“The main goal from the club’s point of view is that we want to get 40 to 50 games into these kids, some of whom haven’t even made their senior debuts yet.
“It’s only early days, but having had plenty of discussions around the club, everyone’s on the same page, and while you never want to lose too many players year on year, turnover can be a healthy thing.
“The club had a number of non-local players last season and they’ve had a really strong junior program over the last few years and it’s important to give those younger guys an opportunity to transition from colts to seniors.”
Along with a focus on youth, the club has also looked to entice local talent back to the club, with former juniors Brodie Tonkin, Zac Warne, Aaron Lonergan and Jarrod Taylor returning, andformer Swan Hill junior Lachlan Wooding and former North Melbourne VFL player Will Doquille joining the Magpies.
While all six players will provide Lake Boga with some much-needed cover through the middle and down back, they won’t offset the losses of key players Jake Warren, Jacob Simpson, Tyle Williams, Lincoln Sieben, Lochie Laing, Daniel Dzufer, Dustin Burns and Matt Taverna, among others.
Although not expecting to push for premiership glory, Helmers remains bullish about what his side can achieve this season, especially after a strong pre-season from his developing side.
“We’ll be looking to play a pretty exciting brand, we’ll be looking to encourage them to take the game on and move the ball up the ground,” Helmers said.
“Their skills are improving rapidly and because the group has had a bit of success over the past few seasons, they want more.
“We want this squad of local kids to play a lot of footy together over the next five or six years and become the backbone of our club’s next premiership team.
“A lot of people aren’t expecting much from us this year, we’ve all heard the comments from people outside the club, but we’re not worried about what anyone thinks.
“We’ve been getting up to 30 blokes some nights on the track over the pre-season which is fantastic, so we’re definitely heading in the right direction.”
FROM THE COACH
“We’ll be aiming to play an exciting brand of footy. In a perfect world, hopefully we don’t drop away too much, but at the same time, when you have a big turnover of players that can sometimes be the reality. I’d still be expecting us to be competitive at the very least.”
IN’S
Zac Warne (Geelong West Giants)
Aaron Lonergan (Moama)
Lachlan Wooding (Whitehorse Pioneers)
Will Doquille (Old Xavierians)
Brodie Tonkin (Old Melbournians)
Jarrod Taylor (Nullawil)
OUT’S
Angus Monfries (Maiden Gully YCW)
Jake Warren (Tatura)
Jacob Simpson (Tatura)
Tyle Williams (Tatura)
Lincoln Sieben
Daniel Dzufer
Dustin Burns
Lochie Laing
Mitchell Whitfield (Woorinen)
Cameron Johnson (Ultima)
Matt Taverna (Ultima)
Lincoln Frost (Ultima)
Ricky Wild (Ultima)
Hunter Hartland (Moulamein)
Byron Holt (Huntly)
Noah Sherlock (Huntly)
Ryan Harvey (Murrabit)
Xander Hartland (Moulamein)
Tobie Richardson (Balranald)
WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2024
With the number and quality of players that have departed the Magpies nest this season, it’s difficult to see them playing finals.
The focus will instead be on developing the next generation, with the club having one of the strongest junior programs in the league with the Magpies playing in all four junior grand finals, for two premierships, over the past two seasons.
While their best may be several years away, Lake Boga should still be competitive, especially with experienced coach Dean Helmers in charge.
While a lack of depth in their key position stocks looms as a significant problem, they look to have plenty of outside running players, which should give the Magpie army a glimpse into the clubs future.
KEY PLAYER
Brodie Tonkin – Returning to his home club having played five senior games in his last year at Lake Boga in 2019. Since then, Tonkin has been plying his trade at a much higher level, having played for the Sandringham Dragons in the TAC Cup, the Northern Bullants in the VFL and Old Melbournians in the Premier Division of the VAFA last season.
An inside midfielder who will be crucial around the stoppages, Tonkin also has enough class on the outside to hurt opposition teams if left alone.
BIG IMPROVER
Ryan Fox – Had a breakout season in 2023, with his ability to run the lines, take the game on and use his speed on the wing seeing him become a vital component of Lake Boga’s midfield. Has been one of the Magpies leaders on the track over the pre-season from all reports and has taken his game to another level, with a move from the wing into a more permanent midfield role potentially on the cards this season.
THE BURNING QUESTION
How do Lake Boga replace Jacob Simpson?
In short, they can’t. Losing their back-to-back reigning club best and fairest and possibly the best ruckman in the competition over the past two seasons will hurt Lake Boga immeasurably. Exacerbating the problem is the Magpies lack of an obvious understudy, with Oli Rohde also set to miss a large chunk of the season with injury.
Young ruckman Kai Everett looms as the most obvious candidate to fill the void left by Simpson’s departure, but he’s still very young and green and will need time to develop.
The only other genuine options are David Gourdis and Taylor Johnstone, who have the height and size, and will likely be called upon to give Everett a chop out.
LAKE BOGA PREDICTED BEST 22
B. Brady Hogan – Marty Parsons – Zac Warne
HB. Lachlan Wooding – Taylor Johnstone – Lachlan Burns
C. Rory Colville – Brodie Tonkin – Ryan Fox
HF. Darby Hayes – David Gourdis – Koben Ryan
F. Xavier Sherlock – Jayden Lonergan – Jarrod Taylor
R. Kai Everett – Nathaniel Holmes-Brown – Will Doquille
INT. Fraser Colville – Aaron Lonergan – Charlie Bryan – Nick Taylor
