QUAMBATOOK v NULLAWIL
QUAMBATOOK will host Nullawil in the opening game of the season – in what could well be a very early look at the potential grand final match-up this season.
There’s little doubt that the Maroons were unstoppable last season, going through undefeated and with an average winning margin of 105 points a game. The scary thing is, they appear to have only improved in 2022.
Rylee Smith is Nullawil’s only confirmed out, with the speedy wingman transferring to Kerang this season. Although losing the talented Smith will hurt, the recruitment of midfielders Dylan Joyce and John Casey, along with a fully fit Daniel Watts, will more than cover his absence.
The Nully engine room will be stacked with talent, with last year’s EG Hunt medallist Matt Quigley also returning for another season, along with former coach Grant Ford and Zac Kelly.
While needing to make up considerable ground to match Nully, Quambatook could hardly been accused of sitting on their hands over the off-season. Gregor Knight will join Tim Free as joint coach this season, while the Saints recruiting department have also been busy adding talent and depth to their list.
Ash Murray is perhaps the biggest addition to the Quamby line-up, with the key forward coming to the club with massive wraps after kicking 160 goals for Bullioh in 2019 – the last full season of football in country Victoria.
Murray won’t be the only addition that’s expected to have a massive impact on the Saints premiership ambitions, with St Arnaud pair Brady Tillig and Brad Organ expected to link up with Tobie Cameron, Gregor Knight, Jack Baker and Ricky Wild in the midfield – and Nick Birthisel and Colby Mitchell set to strengthen Quamby’s back six.
While a competitive game can be envisioned, especially with Quamby’s inclusions, expect Nullawil to be out to make a statement in round one – and once again stake their claim as the team to beat this season.
Tip – Nullawil by 30 points.
WANDELLA v HAY
BOTH Wandella and Hay will look very different to their 2021 versions when they cross the white line tomorrow afternoon, with both clubs undergoing some major changes over the off-season.
After knocking on the door of the top four last season, a mass exodus of senior players has forced the Lions and new senior coach David Webb into investing heavily into the clubs talented younger players.
Utility’s Tom Mcgufficke and Daniel Zambon both departed at the end of last season – along with a number of others – but it’s the loss of Jackson Ferguson that will hit Hay hardest, with the former EG Hunt Medalist and multiple club Best & Fairest leaving a massive hole in his former clubs backline.
Wandella also haven’t been immune to big name departures over the off-season, with Justin Robinson heading north to Irymple, along with fellow key forward Will Callow and Michael Condidorio.
While the loss of both Robinson and Callow, along with that of small forward Chris Wilson, will hurt the Bombers potency up forward – the same can’t be said for their ball winning ability through the midfield after adding increased depth with some focused recruiting.
Mitch Collins and Kane Timmins will be welcome additions to Wandella’s engine room and should perfectly complement Darren Rushton, James Flack and Dylan Treacy, who will return after missing last season with a torn ACL.
Also adding to the Bombers midfield group will be Leighton Wilkins (Tooleybuc-Manangatang) and Ricky Cathie (Newbridge) who will likely rotate through the ruck and key forward positions.
With the opening round always tough on the body, those extra midfield rotations will come into even more focus – and coupled with the many unanswered questions surrounding the Lions line-up, it’s hard to go past the home side. Tip – Wandella by 20 points.ULTIMA v MOULAMEIN
LAST year’s wooden spooner’s Ultima will play host to Moulamein, with both team’s intent on improving on last season.
For the Roos, that means continuing to develop their kids and becoming more competitive week on week – while for the Swans, they’ll be looking to continue their climb up the ladder and challenge the benchmark team in Nullawil.
Moulamein’s biggest strength this season will be their forward line, with leading goal kickers Andrew Silva, Michael Morson, Luke Smailes and Daniel Aarsman all recommitting for another season. If those four combined weren’t a big enough cause for concern, the Swans have gone and added Mathoura key forwards Josh Flight and Callum Harding-Davies to their squad – giving them potentially the most complete forward six in the Golden Rivers.
The only question now is how much supply can they receive from their midfield in order to kick that winning score?
Heath Moloney will give his young midfielders first use of the ball out of the ruck and against Ultima, their on-ball brigade should have no problem in taking full advantage.
As mentioned, 2022 will be another year of development for Ultima, with the Roo’s heading down the path of investing in youth under new coach Kyle Symons. Expect 2021 Rookie of the Year Darcy Farrell to spend more time in the midfield alongside Mitch Seton-Stewart and Jacob Schaper – while former young guns Corey Grey and Angus Hinton will add further depth on their return to the club.
Symons and Ryan Devereux will again be the lynch pins up forward for the Roo’s, however the recruitment of dual Woorinen premiership player Jamie Nicholas will see a major improvement to Ultima’s back six, with Nicholas set to form a strong partnership with Martyn Cooper.
With the Swans expected to control the ball out of the middle – and with the potency of their forward line – it’s hard to predict anything but a Moulamein victory to start the season.
Tip – Moulamein by 27 points.
MURRABIT v MACORNA
THE final game of round one will see Macorna travelling to Murrabit to face a rebuilding Blues outfit.
The only encounter between these two teams last year ended in a thrilling two-point Murrabit victory – which went right down to the last kick of the day.
It might well be a bit harder for the Blues to replicate that form tomorrow however, after the departure of a number of key players over the off-season. Bryden Morison is the biggest name to leave the club, with the gun midfielder heading back to Pyramid Hill, along with Ryan Delamare, while Kyle Keane and Aaron Danson – the man who set up that match winning goal twelve months ago – have both headed north for the winter.
While a number of players have left Murrabit, there is one new arrival that is set to have a big impact in big marking full forward Daniel Hovey, who is a renowned goal kicker with the Wyndham Suns.
While losing Morison will hurt, they Blues still have plenty of runners who can impact the contest, with Nathan O’Toole, Marc O’Neill and Nathan Morrow all set to rotate through the centre and Michael Grant and Brody Green to provide run off half back.
Macorna on the other hand look as though they will be one of the Golden Rivers big improvers in season 2022, with the arrival of two very accomplished players to their club. Malcolm Neiwand will slot seamlessly into the Tigers midfield and give them massive drive out of the middle of the ground – while former Vic. Metro centre half back Lachie Ritchie can play as a key position target at either end of the ground.
Throw in young gun Toby Whinfield and the Golden Rivers leading goal kicker from last season in Jaydon Stiles and it should be the yellow and black brigade who are celebrating a round one victory come 5pm Saturday evening.
Tip – Macorna by 15 points.
