BALRANALD v WOORINEN
IT will be the beginning of a new era for both Balranald and Woorinen Saturday afternoon, with both clubs desperate for their first points under new leadership.
For the Tigers, it will be the first time in 10 years that the playing group have heard a new voice, with Tim Free taking the reins from long-time coach Marcus Demaria over the off-season.
It’s not just Woorinen who will be faced with change, with the Roos also under new leadership, with favourite sons Jack Salau and Ben Fuller taking charge this season.
The home side will have a vastly different look about them, with the Neagle and Lloyd brothers, along with Harrison Soraggi and Jordan Wilkins, among others having departed over summer.
While intrigue surrounds exactly how Balranald will go without their star players, there is also an air of positivity around the Roos, with several big names including Roarke Smith, Cody Henness and Mitch Hannan expected to step out for the first time wearing the blue and white stripes on Saturday.
Despite missing the finals last season, Woorinen are expected to be one of the leading contenders this season after a recruiting spree netted them key forwards Kyle Skene and Matt Perry, along with classy ball users Kane Reid, Jose Miliado and Nyawi Moore.
The midfield battle is where this game will be won and lost, with Woorinen’s engine room, led by Jye Barry, Henry Thompson and Lachlan Gardner, expected to have too much depth and class against a Balranald outfit that might surprise this season.
Tip – Woorinen to win by 15 points.
TYNTYNDER v KOONDROOK-BARHAM
KOONDROOK-Barham will be aiming to make it two wins in a row when they face off against Tyntynder at the Alan Garden Reserve in the opening round of the 2025 season on Saturday.
Having lost their past 32 matches, the River Raiders broke their drought in their final game of last season, defeating none other than the Bulldogs in an upset result that also sent Tyntynder crashing out of the finals race.
Now, six months later, the two clubs will meet again, but this time, it will be Koondrook-Barham who go in as favourites with a new coach, several new recruits and a new game plan expected to see them climb the ladder.
For Tyntynder, they too have undergone many changes over the off-season, with a number of key departures set to have a big bearing on their ability to remain in finals contention.
The appointment of new coaches Charlie Ford, Darcy Bibby and Justin Ellis is a big positive, however, along with the recruitment of midfielder Bailey Reeves and key forward/ruckman Josh Potter from Donald.
The Raiders on the other hand will be almost unrecognisable, and while their changes may mean they take a few weeks to gel, their improved depth will also see them become a much tougher opponent in all facets of the game.
Koondrook-Barham’s midfield will be beefed up by the inclusions of Benji Neil, Lee Dale, Matt Bilton, Lachlan Bates and the return of former junior Jack Thomas, with their increased depth through the centre expected to give them the edge over the Bulldogs.
Tip – Koondrook-Barham to win by 20 points.
NNW UNITED v SWAN HILL
NYAH-Nyah West United will unfurl their premiership flag in front of a parochial home crowd Saturday afternoon, before setting their sights on beginning their premiership defence with a win over Swan Hill.
The Demons will be one of the teams to beat this season, with their hard-running, attacking brand of football hard to stop, especially on their home deck as proved in last year’s preliminary final.
Although NNW United will go into the match as red-hot favourites, there should still be an element of caution for the reigning premiers, who will not only be missing last year’s leading goalkicker Brandyn Grenfell, who has departed for Colbinabbin, but also key position recruits Alex Birch and Nash Richman.
Birch is on the comeback trail from a knee injury that saw him miss most almost the entire 2024 season, while Richman will miss the early rounds of this year with a knee injury of his own.
For Swan Hill, their absence is a blessing in disguise, as they too will be without key defender Tom Corridan for Saturday’s first round encounter with the Demons.
They will have new recruits Sunny Handy, Will Simpson and Perry Roberts making their club debuts, with Handy and Simpson expected to give the Swans some run and carry through the midfield and off half back.
That burst of speed will be vital for Swan Hill against an opponent who love to spread from the contest, which was exactly where they were found wanting when they last played NNW United in round 15 last year.
Tip – NNW United to win by 48 points.
KERANG v LAKE BOGA
IT will be the beginning of a new era for Kerang when they host Lake Boga, with the Blues rebuild taking flight from Saturday afternoon.
With as many as 13 players from last year’s grand final side not returning, Kerang will focus on bringing through their next generation of senior footballers under the guidance of former premiership coach Paul Grayling.
Although the Blues have lost several key players, they won’t be completely unrecognisable, with Bradlee Pay, Marty Kelly, Josh Hunter and Tyson Clingan all set to pull on the boots again in 2025.
Their inclusion, as well as the opportunity that is now presented to a hungry group of talented kids, means that Kerang will still remain competitive at the very least in the short term.
They will need to be hungry Saturday against a youthful Lake Boga outfit who will be hoping to make a statement of their own, with expectations high following an improved finish to last year.
With an extra pre-season under their belts and another 15 senior games, the Magpies could be a team on the improve in 2025.
The recruitment of experienced key forwards Rex Hickman and Andrew McDonald will give the young midfield brigade a strong target to kick to, while the addition of former Heathcote onballer Braden Padmore will also give the Magpies engine room an injection of class.
While recent history hasn’t been kind to the Magpies when they travel to Riverside Park, there is always a round 1 upset – and I’m tipping this game to be it.
Tip – Lake Boga to win by four points.
