Liam Durkin
WE’RE back baby.
The Gippsland League ‘officially’ gets underway this weekend, following the season opener (‘Round 0’) between Traralgon and Bairnsdale last Saturday.
There is no rest for the Maroons or Redlegs, who will take on Leongatha and Drouin respectively.
There is still a week to go until the North Gippsland, East Gippsland and Mid Gippsland competitions start, so be on the lookout for some sneaky selections.
BATTLE of the Birds takes place in Maffra.
Sale has already had a win over Maffra this year, with Sale senior coach, Jack Johnstone beating Maffra captain, Daniel Bedggood in an exhibition boxing bout two weeks ago.
Fortunately for both clubs, neither player suffered concussion (which would have put them out for 21 days), and they now turn their attention to winning the game at hand on the football field.
Sale will be aiming to get back into the top three this season after bombing out in the first final last year, and on paper at least, look to have a very strong top eight-10 players.
Shannen Lange, Will Leslie, Jack Leslie, Hudson Holmes, Johnstone, Cody Henness and ace recruit Derek Eggmolesse-Smith (ex-Richmond) have all played VFL or higher, while Jack McLaren is coming off a breakout season.
Magpies key forward Brad Dessent has also reportedly bulked up significantly, and looks in good shape to return another 50-plus season.
As they say though, you are only as good as your bottom six, and just how far the drop is for Sale could be reflected once the days get colder and the nights get icier.
Meanwhile, Maffra presents an interesting case study.
A few Eagles officials weren’t overly impressed this writer put them last on his predicted ladder, so they may feel they have a point to prove.
Luke Dyer has joined the club after a stellar career in East Gippsland circles, where he won a swag of league best and fairest awards atLindenow.
Dyer will inject some needed experience to a young Maffra outfit, although one does query just how much difference someone approaching the age of 40 will have at Gippsland League level.
Traditionally, Maffra are always quietly confident in their football programs, and with premierships in both the thirds and fourths last year, might be prepared to play the long game.
Maffra heart-and-soul, Bill Pleming is another eyebrow-raising out, continuing a trend across the league of players you would never expect to depart their club doing so.
Yes, it is looking like it will be very much a different Gippsland League in 2024.
BAIRNSDALE are home for the second week in a row, and will hope having a game under their belt helps.
The Redlegs could however have some early injury concerns, and playing-coach Logan Austin looks the most noticeable omission with a hamstring.
The Redlegs broke down completely when Austin was off the field in the last quarter against Traralgon, and even after one game there could be fears it is the same Bairnsdale narrative as last year: ‘They need two Logan Austin’s – one at centre half forward and one at centre half back’.
There is some reprieve however, with goal-sneak Brayden McCarrey expected to come back in this weekend.
Austin might have a greater insistence on handball this weekend, as watching Bairnsdale last week, it seemed they tried to kick their way through every problem, even in close.
Drouin has a big trip ahead of them, but come into the season carrying expectations of climbing the ladder.
DESPITE finishing last in 2023, the Hawks lost a handful of games by single digit margins, and ended with a percentage close to 70 – hardly a statistic associated with a struggling side.
Drouin won plenty of admirers last season for their willingness to play bold. Common feedback from other teams was that the only way to beat them was to keep scoring yourself – because there was no way to stop them scoring.
Speaking to returning Hawks coach, Brent Clinnick at the season launch last week, he simply said the emphasis on offence was “about enjoying your footy”.
Drouin will however need to find another avenue to goal, as Hugo Birks (surely the greatest name in Gippsland League history) has departed, although gun midfielder Ed Morris has returned.
LEONGATHA will likely do Leongatha things this season.
Even from this far out, most league pundits are predicting it will be a case of Leongatha finishing on top as they chase a third successive flag, but from there, it is wide open.
This assumption is predicated on the fact there has been a lot of absolute top-liners depart the scene. Names such as Jack Hutchinson and Ryan Sparkes at Wonthaggi, and Aaron Heppell and Josh Hopkins at Leongatha.
With this in mind, while it is reasonably assumed the overall standard of the Gippsland League might drop, the competition itself should be a lot tighter.
MOE and Morwell will renew hostilities this weekend.
The Lions have hosting rights for the first encounter, and will look to start their campaign off on the right foot.
Pleasingly for the rest of the league, Ted Summerton Reserve is in immaculate condition, and there should be no fear of grass burn as there was toward the end of last season.
Much like the rest of the league, it is looming as a new era for Moe, who have said farewell to club legends James Blaser, Tom Long and Ben Morrow (sorry, I have something in my eye after writing that).
Moe has also been able to nab Max Woodall out of Mirboo North, and will hope to have him available when not on Gippsland Power duty.
Morwell, sporting a new-look Tiger logo, might also have some new-look plans in mind for 2024.
While Morwell continues to invest in local youth, they have added some recruits from down Mornington way to assist in their resurgence.
Boyd Bailey is back for his second season as playing-coach, and is eyeing off another finals tilt.
His diplomatic decision to play cricket for Yinnar Raiders during summer meant he was able to get Harri McColl across, and the league will watch on with interest to see how the key position player goes this season.
The Tigers have had a less than ideal run into the first game off the field, losing VFL-listed player Tristen Waack at the last minute.
Compounding the issue is the fact Waack is now aligned to Morwell’s greatest enemy – Traralgon.
As if the rivalry wasn’t fierce enough, the Maroons secured Waack seemingly out-of-the-blue.
Waack went on a journeyman VFL trip over summer, leaving Box Hill, then moving to Williamstown, before abruptly leaving the seaside club reportedly because it was ‘too cliquey’, to finally land at the Northern Bullants.
It is understood Morwell denied Waack’s clearance at least once, but he now finds himself in the maroon and white.
It must be time for Round 1 – I had a dream last week Jarryd Blair kicked me out of the Wonthaggi huddle while I was trying to take photos.
