MININERA and District Football League gets underway for its 2024 season today with teams looking for round one wins.
Penshurst v Caramut
PENSHURST will start its 150-year anniversary season at home when the club hosts Caramut at Penshurst Recreation Reserve.
Having reached finals last season the Bombers will be looking to at least match that achievement while also looking towards a special celebration should the side win the flag at seasons end.
Nathan Rentsch (Koroit), Josh Rentsch (Sturt), Sam Rentsch (Sturt), Luke Searle (South Barwon), Ian Milera (Proprietary Lisdon Lions), Elijah Satala (Morphett Vale), and Jaykeb Paley (St Albans) are all new or returning players to the club this season who will only strengthen what has been a good squad.
The team will feel the loss of Henry Bensch who has headed off to England to play cricket, but Penshurst coach Jayden Watson is quietly excited for the campaign ahead with the inclusions to the senior squad.
“We’ve had one practice match against Allansford with Josh (Rentsch) standing out over all others, while Ben Marti was very good down back” Watson said.
“I’m expecting Caramut to be improved on last season under new coach Scott Judd, we will be ready for whatever they throw at us.”
The last meeting between these teams was in the final round of last season where Penshurst had 40 shots on goal.
Great Western v Glenthompson-Dunkeld
GLENTHOMPSON-DUNKELD makes the road trip to Stawell’s Central Park to tackle Great Western.
A massive 229-point victory in the final round last season allowed the Rams to grab fifth place on the ladder and from there the team knocked off Penshurst before falling to eventual runner-up, Woorndoo-Mortlake, in the second week of the finals.
The club has made significant signings over the off season with Zach Burgess (Hamilton Kangaroos), Will Kent (Hamilton Kangaroos), Simon Tindall (East Warrnambool), Zach Soawyer (Coleraine), Andrew Lowe (Nhill), Nathan Richardson, and Josh Crook (year off) all brought into the Rams fold.
Glenthompson-Dunkeld coach, Tom Waters, is excited with the inclusions to his squad for the season as he looked to where each will play.
“Burgess will play in the mid-field while also spending time in the forward line, Kent will start on the half back line while also being that ‘swing man’ utility, Richardson should slot into the wing while having time at half back, Lowe is a mid-fielder, Soawyer will play on the half back flank,” Waters said.
“Simon Tindall has good height and will be in the ruck, while Crook is a defensive player who will play mainly back pocket and half back.”
The Lions had seven wins for the season in 2023 and they will be desperate to improve on that return with finals a definite goal this year.
Waters has kept an eye on the opponents who have picked up several strong recruits this off season.
“They have signed four or five players from Geelong, and I expect this will lift them to be very close to our standard, so it’s going to be a very evenly contested round one,” Waters said.
“These players are going improve the Lions this season so to get the points first up is our goal.”
Hawkesdale-Macarthur v Wickliffe-Lake Bolac
MACARTHUR Recreation Reserve is the venue for the opening round of the season between these two teams that had vastly different campaigns last season.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur were two wins adrift of playing finals while Wickliffe-Lake Bolac was defeated in the preliminary final.
The Eagles will have extra incentive to perform better in the opening rounds this year after the side dropped games they should have won last year thereby costing it a spot in the finals.
Last season these sides met in round one and on that occasion the Eagles fell short by a single goal, but the home side is fitter this season after a solid preseason so it should be able to run the game out.
With Ollie Wortley only being available for a handful of games this season after relocating for study, his workload is going to have to be picked up by others within the squad.
Netball
ROUND one of the Mininera and District Netball Association has arrived with all teams raring to get started after the long off season with many clubs trotting out new recruits for the 2024 season.
Hawkesdale-Macarthur v Wickliffe-Lake Bolac
AFTER missing all but a couple of games last season, Wickliffe-Lake Bolac will have an A grade team this season with Hawkesdale-Macarthur hosting the Magpies at its brand-new Macarthur Recreation Reserve courts.
The courts were refurbished during summer, giving the club and its players a first-class surface to play on, so the Eagles will be keen to christen them with a first up victory.
This will not be an easy match for Eagles coach, Josie Barker, to set her team for, as all opposition teams will have little or no clues as to the playing style of the Wickliffe-Lake Bolac side.
“After not having a team for two years, we are unsure what to expect from the Magpies side, but we are so pleased for their club to get (its) A grade side back up and running, they must be thrilled,” Barker said.
“Our side looks completely different this year with lots of new inclusions, so I have reiterated to the girls to just keep it simple, and it may take a couple of weeks for our free flow of netball to come but remember to back ourselves in and play on instinct (where) people’s strengths will shine.”
Penshurst v Caramut
PENSHURST Recreation Reserve will be the venue that the Bombers kick off its historic season in 2024 where the club celebrates 150 years since formation.
Caramut will make the road trip today and the Swans will be looking to improve on their form of 2023 where the side won four games, with one of those a forfeit victory against the Magpies.
The Swans started last season in fine form with an eight-goal victory against Glenthompson-Dunkeld, with April Edwards and Amy Mann on fire in goals, but aside from that opening round victory, the side only defeated the two teams that finished lower than them on the ladder.
Penshurst coach, Leah Mirtschin, has several new faces to select her side from this season after an off-season where work requirements and injuries have forced changes to the Bombers top grade.
“Erin Kinnealy will slot into the defensive line up with myself, adding some much-needed height to our team, and Mickayla Beavis is a new face to our club, with the ability to play both ends of the court,” Mirtschin said.
“We also have Sinaed Hasell back after having her beautiful girl last year and I must say she’s been training the house down and has come into pre-season the fittest I’ve ever seen her.
“She will bolster our midcourt with her speed, calmness, and strong defensive game.”
Great Western v Glenthompson-Dunkeld
STAWELL’S Central Park will host all Great Western home games this season as the Lions’ home ground undergoes refurbishment, with the Rams making the road trip north today.
The Lions won only half the number of games as the Rams, but neither team would have been satisfied with the 2023 season and they will need vast improvement in 2024 to feature in the finals.
Rams coach, Laura Matthews, has her sights firmly set on a finals berth after the signing of Eve Duckmanton, Jenna Loats, and Elise Bibby during the off-season.
“We are at full strength for the opening game and it’s the first time we have played at Central Park,” Matthews said.
“They’ve always been a strong physical team and I’d expect that again until the game starts and see what style of netball they will be playing and hopefully we can adjust and combat that.
“The team message will be to go out and play strong defence to give us more opportunities to score, and to be okay with making mistakes while we get to know each other.”
Other games
THE other Mininera football and netball games for round one will see SMW Rovers and Ararat Eagles face-off at Mininera Recreation Reserve, while Tatyoon will be at home to Woorndoo-Mortlake, and Lismore-Derrinallum and Moyston-Willaura will clash at Derrinallum.
