BALRANALD will be out to redeem themselves for last year’s grand final heartbreak when they open the 2024 Central Murray FNL season against reigning premiers Kerang tomorrow afternoon.
While Balranald are expected to go into the season opener with a similar team to the one that succumbed by 10-points in last year’s decider, Kerang will have a vastly different look, with up to 10 changes from their premiership line-up expected.
Rylee Smith, Michael Dalrymple, Hayden Hall and Adam Hunter have all departed for other clubs, while Troy Coates, Troy Davis, Ash Davis and Gregor Knight retired over the off-season.
They won’t be the only changes for the Blues, however, with Ryan Gillingham (groin) and Lachlan Ross also expected to miss tomorrow’s grand final rematch.
Returning for Kerang will be former premiership player Jarryd Pertzel and former junior Archer Disbdale to help strengthen the Blues’ forward line, but it’s the debut of Golden Square premiership onballer and former Michelson Medallist Adam Baird that has Blues coach Troy Coates most excited.
“He’s (Baird) got an amazing resume — there isn’t much he hasn’t achieved in football — and I think we’re all looking forward to seeing what he can do with us,” Coates said.
“We have a pretty strong midfield as it is with guys like Josh Nitschke, Marty Kelly and Sam Heavyside, but ‘Skinny’ (Baird) is just a natural reader of the footy and such a smart player.
“He just knows where to go to find the footy and will bring a lot of experience to our side.
“‘Arch’ (Dibsdale) will help straighten us up a lot.
“He’s a guy who demands the footy a bit deeper and will be a big presence for us up forward, while ‘Pertz’ (Pertzel) was probably our most dangerous forward throughout our practice matches.
“He’s gotten himself really fit and is a running machine.”
Balranald will also welcome a few new faces into their line-up, with Mason Fitzgerald and Lachlan Lellman expected to slot into the Roos’ midfield and forward line respectively.
Lellman will be a big inclusion for Balranald, with the marking forward expected to help ease the workload on full forward Ben Fuller.
Despite Kerang’s changes, Balranald joint coach Jydon Neagle told The Guardian he was expecting another hard-fought contest tomorrow.
“They obviously got the better of us last year but we’re keen to turn that around,” Neagle said.
“It will be a good chance to show where we’re at.
“They (Kerang) were the benchmark last season and I’m sure they will be one of the teams to beat again this year.
“We’re keen to get our season off to a good start and there’ll be a lot of excited and nervous boys on both sides.
“I’m expecting another tough battle just as they were every time we played them last year.
“I’m sure they’ll bring the same high level of ball use that got us last year.
“If we’re switched on defensively and we don’t locate our man and cover off properly, then they’re just going to cut us up with their foot skills.
“They’re strong across the board with the way they move the ball.
“They take their opportunities when they go forward and we need to limit their ball use.”
With both teams possessing strong and deep midfields, tomorrow’s match is likely to be decided by which team dominates at each end of the ground.
Young defender Josh Hunter should get first crack at Fuller if he plays, which looms as the key match-up inside Balranald’s forward line.
At the other end of the ground, Jaxon Neagle is the man Kerang will need to nullify, with Coates aware of the damage Balranald’s key defender can cause.
“He (Jaxon Neagle) is a really good intercept mark so we’ll have to be really smart with our forward 50 entries and make sure he’s not able to pick us off,” Coates said.
“They have some extremely talented players, especially the three Neagle brothers and the Lloyd brothers.
“Those guys can take a game away from you by themselves if you let them so we’ll have to put a bit of work into those guys.
“They (Balranald) are a really well drilled and disciplined side and they’ll be hungry for success after last year’s grand final.
“All our games last year against them were defensive battles, including the grand final, so I don’t think tomorrow will be a shootout.
“Both teams put an emphasis on defence first with the way they play and push back into defence with numbers.
“I don’t see tomorrow being any different.”
Tip – Balranald to win by eight points.
