Alvie looks to bounce back after preliminary final loss to Irrewarra-Beeac
Three leagues will get underway this weekend in country Victoria as local footy returns. We take a look at the matches set to be played this weekend.
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Last year’s preliminary final loss won’t be on Alvie’s mind as the Swans prepare to face the team which eliminated them in 2024
Alvie will take on Irrewarra-Beeac in the traditional Colac District league season-opener at Warrowie Recreation Reserve.
This is the third time the two sides have faced each other to start the season but there is more to this year’s match.
Last year the Bombers ended Alvie’s chances of winning back-to-back premierships, beating it in the preliminary final by 38 points.
Alvie coach Dominic Dare insists the team is focused on this year.
He added other factors have allowed them to move on.
“We’ve got a whole new squad, a lot of those players didn’t play last year,” he said.
“We’ve got our own goals we’re trying to achieve.
“We see it as a fresh start.”
Alvie will enter 2025 with half the team which achieved the premiership in 2023.
There’s also a few new recruits to replace those who have left the team at the end of last season.
“We had four or five retire and we’ve replaced them with guys of a younger age bracket, the 26 to 28 age group,” Dare said.
“We were selective of who we went after and who we got, we’re a six in, six out situation, so we’ll see how it pans out.”
Two of the recruits were Cobden duo Christian Korneos and Jesse Williamson.
“Williamson is a Hampden league representative and one of the premier players of the league,” Dare said.
“He’s an Alvie junior we’ve got back and we’ve been trying to get him back for the past couple of years.
“He’s an exciting half-forward flanker/wingman who adds an x-factor to us.”
Dare said the changes would impact the way the side plays but it can still be a contender for the title.
“We’re going to be a faster, more running side at times,” he said.
“We think we’ve got the tools to compete.”
Dare himself will be one of the key players in the contest.
Last year he won a league-record fifth goalkicking award and in 2023 was one of a handful of players who kicked 100 goals in a season.
The two sides play against each other at 6.30pm.
The Colac league isn’t the only country footy competition to start with two leagues set to begin up north.
The Ovens and King and the nearby Tallangatta league will also get underway.
Here is a look at the fixtures in Round 1.
Ovens and King
The grand final replay highlights the opening round with Greta to unfurl its flag at home against Bright.
It’s a big year for the Blues, celebrating their 80th year in the Ovens and King competition.
For Bright, it will be looking to bounce back after losing the grand final by 68 points.
The 2022 premier Benalla All Blacks has the chance to win its third match in three seasons, taking on fellow cellar-dweller Tarrawingee in the opening round.
The All Blacks defeated the Bulldogs last year in Round 19 for their only win of the season.
Other games see Milawa face North Wangaratta, Goorambat take on King Valley and Whorouly to face Bonnie Doon.
Tallangatta
Yackandandah will unfurl its first premiership flag since 2000 when it takes on Chiltern in a grand final replay to start the new season.
The Kangaroos won the premiership last year over the Swans by 24 points.
For the Swans it’s been an off-season of change with plenty of players leaving, including retiring 2022 league best-and-fairest winner Scott Meyer.
It will be interesting to see how the Swans go.
All eyes will on Tallangatta when the Hoppers take on Mitta United.
The club has signed former Ovens and Murray best-and-fairest Elliott Powell, one of the big recruits in the competition.
He will be looking to help the team to make finals for the first time since 2019.
Other games will see Rutherglen face Dederang Mt Beauty, Thurgoona battle Beechworth, Barnawartha take on Kiewa Sandy Creek and Wahgunyah face Wodonga Saints.
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