All the ins, outs and predictions for the BFL in 2023
Everyone on the Bellarine is chasing Barwon Heads. See who landed the big recruits and where every club will finish in 2023.
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Footy is back on the Bellarine and with all clubs chasing premier Barwon Heads, the Addy looks at all the ins and outs and where we expect each club to finish.
ANGLESEA
Last year: 7th
In: Josh Jaska, Jack Walters, Will Batson (St Mary’s), Noah McGregor-Dawson (Barwon Heads), Lachie Smith (Grovedale), Harrison Veale, Jack Rice (returning), James Carr (Uni Blues), Jarrod Bacon (Lockington Barnawam United), Jack Baker (Gisborne), Fergus Huntington (Collegians)
Out: Dale Carson (retired), Ryan Williams (Lorne)
Club says: “I think Ammos will be a really good challenge for us round 1, they will probably be thinking the same and they have recruited some quality players and want to prove they are a top-three side. Then obviously Drysdale are going to be really strong, they have some quality players on their list. There is Torquay and Barwon Heads. They haven’t lost anyone really, I am expecting it to be a pretty competitive top five.” – coach Jordan Keras.
Addy says: Finals should be a non-negotiable for the Roos this year after drawing in a bunch of talent led by St Mary’s star Josh Jaska. Some judges have Anglesea in the hunt for a grand final so the sky is the limit.
Prediction: 3rd
Last year: Premiers
In: Luke Davis, James Syddall (South Barwon), Lachie Slorach (Navarre), Tyle Stuhldreier, Harrison King (Bacchus Marsh), Tom Swift (Uni Blacks), Charlie Perks (North Ballarat), Cam O’Leary (Palm Beach), Ben O’Sullivan (Kolora-Noorat).
Out: Noah McGregor-Dawson (Anglesea), Tony Armstrong, Nick Avery, Shaun Lyle (retired), Will Jacobs (Alvie), Andy Walsgott (Belmont Lions).
Club says: “We have been happy with the way pre-season has gone after saying farewell to a few members of last year’s team. We’ve been lucky enough to keep the majority of the list. The boys that have come into the club have been awesome for the group.” – co-coach Mitch Herbison.
Addy says: Hard to see the Seagulls falling off the perch, particularly having drawn in proven GFL performers Luke Davis and James Syddall. Smart judges across the league still have Barwon Heads and Torquay above the rest.
Prediction: 2nd
DRYSDALE
Last year: 3rd
In: Dan Delany (Apollo Bay), Michael Case (Leopold), Hamish Paynter (Macleod), Ross Celano (North Shore.
Out: Billy Beardsell (Surfers Paradise), Jarrod Garth (Horsham Saints), Adam Nolan, Mitch Scott (retired), Tev Nofi (Leopold), Mat Hebbard (Geelong West GDFL), Chris Lynch (Donald).
Club says: “I think the Bellarine just keeps getting stronger. All the sides pretty much have recruited rally well so we have to continue to improve to keep up with the pack. I think the comp is just getting stronger and stronger.” – co-coach Ben Carmichael.
Addy says: Having lost spearheads Jarrod Garth and Mat Hebbard, the question surrounding the Hawks will be how they get their goals. The midfield should be stronger so if they can find enough goalkickers, they will be right in the mix again.
Prediction: 5th
Last year: 5th
In: Riley Ferguson, Xavier Muhor (St Joseph’s), Jai Sheahan (Newtown & Chilwell), Tom Zeitz (St Mary’s), Josh Grabowski (East Keilor), Daniel Grose (Carara), Tom Gribble (Geelong West, Werribee VFL), Aaron Willitts (Bacchus Marsh), Zac Nelson (Mildura), Will Page (Uni Blues), Ethan Grills, Dylan Cox (Geelong West), Harrison Hampshire (Port Fairy).
Out: Kris Bucovaz (retired), Lachie Devine (travel), Sam Hosking (St Mary’s), Tommy Stephen (Grovedale), Corey Jarred (Belmont Lions), Dave McNeel, Lachie Reilly (Lake Bolac-Wickilffe)
Club says: “We want to beat those teams above us, we don’t just want to be competitive, we want to be beating those teams. Last year we didn’t beat a side above us, we only beat teams below us. We don’t want to just be competitive, we have recruited well enough that we don’t have any excuses.” – co-coaches Daniel Holroyd.
Addy says: Pegged by some as a big improver this year, Ammos have recruited strongly. Riley Ferguson and Jai Sheahan have been top-quality GFL players, while Aaron Willitts has kicked goals for fun over his career. The question will be whether it’s enough to break into the top-three.
Prediction: 4th
MODEWARRE
Last year: 4th
In: Fletcher Joseph (Newcomb), Billy Bernet (Apollo Bay), Scott Hughes (Daylesford), Jack Barrow (Colac), Oscar Cooke (Cohuna), Jayden Exell (Thomson), Joe Daniels (Alexandria)
Out: Jeremy Smith (Leopold), Doug Beams, Lachie Warburton (Woorinen), Ollie Butler (Birregurra), Jack Bardsell (East Geelong)
Club says: “It’s a hard (season) to really predict to be honest. We want to compete for that No.1 spot, that is our contention and where we stack up, we will find that out when we get through the early part of the year.” – co-coach Tom Hornsey
Addy says: Modewarre is clearly among the top six sides heading into the year and have landed some good talent. But with the teams around them improving, could this be the year they take a slight step back? The Warriors don’t think so and see themselves as right in the mix of premiership contenders.
Prediction: 6th
Last year: 8th
In: Charlie Harvey, Jack Walsh (Portland), Hugh Gove, Joel Geue (Horsham Saints), Jarrad Duncan (South Barwon), Thewin Robertson (Lara), Tom Smith (Alvie), Joel Geue (Tom Webster (Traralgon).
Out: Brenton Rees, Coby Eagle (Winchelsea), Jye Walker (Ocean Grove), Fletcher Joseph (Modewarre), Finn Anscombe (Hepburn Springs).
Club says: “A lot of our focus this year is going to be changing the way we move the footy. We really want to make sure we are using our speed and our foot skills. I want our players to see that we are progressing and we are getting better and more competitive.” – coach Mitch Troy.
Addy says: New coach Mitch Troy isn’t expecting a leap into the finals just yet for Newcomb but after a base of five wins last year, the Power should be eyeing one or two more scalps.
Prediction: 8th
Last year: 9th
In: Jye Walker (Newcomb), Brady Pritchard (St Mary’s), Patrick Norton (Leopold)
Out: Kye Annand (Geelong West GFL), James Paterson, Mitch Taylor (Uni Blues), Jake Wilkie (travel), Cam Marchbank (retired), Tom Ness (injury), Fletcher Keck (St Albans)
Club says: “It’s obviously really hard to tell, especially when you haven’t played a game against anyone yet but the way the group has gelled together and we have put our game plan and tactics together in the past couple of weeks (of pre-season games), it is super exciting.” – captain Joe McDonald.
Addy says: A brilliant 2021 season was washed away with a lowly four-win effort last year. The Grubbers are confident they are still on the rise as they showed two years back, with a young side pushing them right up the ladder. New coach Dave Farrell will bring some nous and Ocean Grove should improve.
Prediction: 7th
PORTARLINGTON
Last year: 10th
Ins: Zac Kos, Matt Fromholtz, Dylan O’Brien (Leopold), Tom Richardson (Ocean Grove), Nathan Pigott (Drysdale), Jake Alderding (Thomson), Mitch Turnbull (Altona), Alex Gugliotti (Mooroopna), Lachie Lusher (Allansford).
Outs: Jack Woodhams (Newcastle City), Nick Woodhams (retired), Blake Natoli-West (retired), Jack Benjamin (Queenscliff).
Club says: “I think the feedback from the playing group and the coaches has been that we are training with an improved structure and that obviously comes with making some changes. I think we have all bought in to what we wanted to do and now we get tested come Saturday afternoon for the first time.” – coach Warren Finlayson
Addy says: Some judges across the Bellarine have pegged this as the year for Portarlington to pick up a victory for the first time since 2018. Under new coach Warren Finlayson, the Demons aren’t putting any pressure on themselves but they do expect to improve.
Prediction: 10th
Last year: 6th
In: Matt Tanner, James Tanner, Jayden McCluskey (Rutherglen)
Out: Tom Limb (work), Brayden Warren (Inverleigh).
Club says: “We are going to develop some players. One of the things we set out to do was strengthen our list as a whole. We thought we only had about 25 players to pick from for our senior side last year but with the group we have coming through our colts (side) we think we will be a lot stronger.” – coach Rory Nicol
Addy says: It’s young talent time at Queenscliff, with the Coutas expecting to field a side with an average age of 20 this year as the club invests in its development from its senior side all the way to Auskick level. Nicol dubbed his team the “Baby Coutas” and while he won’t put a lid on what his team can achieve this year, 2023 will be a year of growth.
Prediction: 9th
TORQUAY
Last year: 2nd
In: Charlie Ham (St Marys, Werribee VFL)
Out: Call Currie (Newlyn), Roscoe Holmes, Dom Gleeson (retired)
Club says: “We’re looking forward to round 1. Our growth in 2023 will come from our core group of 20-25 year olds. We’re excited to see how the group performs.” – coach Dom Gleeson
Addy says: Now carrying two lost grand finals to Barwon Heads and a missed chance to feel the success of a premiership win in 2021, the Tigers are still chasing glory. They are perfectly equipped to go again and may have the recruit of the year on board in former AFL-listed North Melbourne midfielder Charlie Ham. Expect Torquay to be right up there again but all that will matter to this group is what happens on the last weekend of the season.
Prediction 1st
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Originally published as All the ins, outs and predictions for the BFL in 2023
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