THE Bombers will be looking to start the season on a high in the Mininera and District Football League (MDFL) when they take on the Ararat Eagles at Penshurst today.
The visiting Eagles will likely be one of the teams to beat this season after finishing fifth last year, despite losing four games – three of which were decided by under 10 points.
Penshurst will be optimistic it can start well with a good mix of youth and experience and will be hoping the hard pre-season work can pay off.
Coached by Cameron Penny, the side finished ninth last season, but will put that on the backburner as it starts fresh in 2022 with some big inclusions and plenty of exciting youngsters.
“We’re all really excited to get stuck into the season, we’ve put in a really good meaningful and long pre-season with the new addition of Jayden Watson as playing-assistant coach … it’ll be great to be back in hopefully a normal atmosphere,” Penny told The Spectator.
When the sides met last year in round 11, Ararat Eagles caused hell for the injury-ravaged Penshurst side, blowing the Bombers away by 84 points, but Penny hoped some really good fitness could change that.
“We are fitter and stronger after the pre-season … they are a well led side, the Taurau boys are terrific footballers, and the team plays an exciting brand of football,” he said.
“We’re going to have to be switched on to counter that, but we will look to play our own style of game, it’ll be a great test for us.”
Penny said the list was largely similar to 2021 with a few senior players back from injury and even more young guys who will step up into the senior team.
“I think the continual development of the younger senior players (will be great to watch), the likes of Nathan Rentsch who won the best and fairest last season, Jye Uebergang, Daniel Rentsch, Sam Hasell and some of the really young guys coming in like Brody Gibbs and Tim Smith,” he said.
The Bombers will have home ground advantage with the red and black hoping it can translate into a round one win.
Other games
WICKLIFFE-LAKE BOLAC will host Caramut in its round one clash at Lake Bolac, as both sides try to get an early win on the board.
The Magpies won just a single game last season, a 134-point massacre when the sides last met, and will hope to replicate that form.
This will be an intriguing battle as a recruit-bolstered Caramut side tries to change its fortune and break an 11-game losing streak.
TATYOON will again be a side to beat when it takes on Glenthompson-Dunkeld at the Hawks’ home ground.
Both sides were strong in 2021, finishing in the top four and when they met in round one of last season, it was Tatyoon which ran away with a 40-point win.
However, the Rams will look to turn that around and make the most of every inside 50, as they attempt to reverse the outcome.
GREAT WESTERN travels to Mininera to take on the SMW Rovers today to open the new season.
As the damaging Lions side showed last year, any lacklustre defensive efforts from opposition sides resulted in them piling on goals at a rapid rate.
The Bulldogs will have to play at their best if they are to be a chance to take home the four points and will look to their more experienced players to lead the way under new coach, David Box.
MOYSTON-WILLAURA and Hawkesdale-Macarthur will battle it out in Willaura today and despite being round one, the game could be crucial in deciding which of the two sides could push towards the top five.
The Eagles got the better of the Pumas by a significant margin last season and will look to some of the younger players to have a great impact, while Moyston-Willaura will hope the home crowd can help get them over the line.
LISMORE-DERRINALLUM will be faced with arguably its toughest game for the season first up, taking on last year’s minor premiers, the Tigers, at Woorndoo.
The Demons showed glimpses in 2021 of putting together some solid performances but were unable to crack into the top five, while the Tigers cruised to a season record of 11-0 – winning by 50 points or more on nine occasions.
They will likely be the benchmark of the competition again and this will be a big test for Lismore-Derrinallum.
HAWKESDALE-MACARTHUR will take on Moyston-Willaura today to kick off the Mininera and District Netball Association (MDNA) 2022 A grade season.
There was nothing that separated the two teams last season, finishing eighth and ninth with three wins each, and both the Eagles and Pumas will be out to start 2022 with a win.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur coach, Maureen McGrath said it was all about connection and building cohesion early in the season after key personnel changes over the off-season.
The Eagles have recruited well and introduced a number of new players to the A grade side, which McGrath hoped could be the difference between a mediocre year and making finals.
“(We have) added some new recruits and we are looking forward to our first game together … we are just hoping to cement our new combinations and grow from there as a team,” she said.
“Pre-season has been great; we have had great numbers in all grades, and everyone is raring to go.”
Returning for her second stint in the top job, McGrath felt belief was an important area for the girls and could enable them to play some of their best netball as the season progressed.
“Wins are important all through the year for finals, but early ones put belief into your side … we have been able to build on from the team and connection we had at the end of last year,” she said.
Among the recruits are former Hampden Football Netball League (HFNL) players, bringing extra knowledge to the team.
“We have had Josie Barker join us, coming from Port Fairy, Laura Addinsall has come back to us after being away playing at Port Fairy and Madison Kelly has stepped up to A grade,” McGrath said.
“I think all our players in their own right are ones to watch, we have a solid group and don’t rely on just a few people.”
Other games
TATYOON will host Glenthompson-Dunkeld at home in what shapes up to be a close contest.
The Rams have been a powerhouse, but have been weakened by the loss of some key players, as the Hawks will go into the game confident that their best netball could start their season with a win.
Emma and Kellie Sommerville made the move to Hamilton Kangaroos and will leave a big hole in the team, and with no Eve Duckmanton under the ring, the court will look quite different.
SMW ROVERS will take the court against Great Western for their first outing of the season at Mininera.
While the Lions go into the clash as favourites, the Bulldogs will be fired up and ready to go as they aim to go a few spots better than last year and make finals.
Great Western have a strong defensive end, which will force the home side to use the ball well when passing into the goal ring, but you can expect it to be a strong contest.
PENSHURST hit form towards the end of last season and will be hoping to carry that into today’s game when they take on Ararat Eagles at Penshurst.
Finishing 2021 with a record of 9-2, the Bombers are a formidable outfit and will be eyeing off a top two spot this season, while Ararat won just two games last season, it will look to put pressure on the home team and put up a good fight.
WOORNDOO-MORTLAKE will look to cruise to victory and start the season off with a big percentage boost when they take on Lismore-Derrinallum today.
The Tigers were undefeated last season while the Demons almost went winless, it will likely be a tough outing for the visitors who will need to find something special to give themselves a chance of bringing it up to the 2021 minor premiers.
The home side had some huge wins last season and if they have their say, this game will be no exception from the first whistle.
WICKLIFFE-LAKE BOLAC hosts Caramut at Lake Bolac and this could be another one-sided affair if the Swans’ struggles last season continue.
Finishing on the bottom of the ladder, it was a tough year for Caramut, but the Swans will be hoping to start fresh.
The Magpies were more of a defensive side last season restricting sides to low scores regularly and this will cause problems for the Swans’ shooters.
