MPNFL 2021: Pearcedale to host Devon Meadows in season opener
The long wait is nearly over, with the first local football competition to kick off on Saturday — 560 days after the last game in Melbourne.
Mornington
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A youthful Pearcedale side will host a new-look Devon Meadows in the MPNFL Division 2 season opener at Pearcedale Reserve on Saturday.
It’s the first local game in Melbourne since 2019 after the 2020 season was cancelled, with most leagues starting the following week.
The battle of the Panthers is sure to be hotly contested, with both clubs determined to put on a strong first-up showing.
After all, they’ve been training for this for 18 months.
“It will be good to bounce the ball again,” Pearcedale coach Boris Hamilton said.
“It will be lovely, looking forward to it.”
Devon coach Neil Craig expects a great atmosphere as footy fans clamber to watch the action close up and socialise with friends.
“They’ll jam them in,” he said.
“If you want to go for a beer and watch a game of footy, it’s the place to be.”
Hamilton said his Pearcedale side, captained by Dave Hussey, will be full of local kids.
“We’ll stick with the locals, it’s pretty much a homegrown team of young local talent, which is good,” he said.
Jack McGuiness and Jahron Ostrom will be Dales co-captains and Hamilton says his side hopes to cause an upset on Saturday.
“We’ll be trying our hardest,” he said.
“We’ve had a really good pre-season, numbers have been good.
“We’ve really stepped it up fitness-wise.
“In the practice matches our last two quarters have probably been our best two so fitness won’t be a problem. We’re fairly quick with our youth. We’re not a very big side.”
The interest is so high in the return of local football that both teams are reporting they have a full complement of players — in fact more than enough.
Pearcedale will have to leave out a dozen players this week, while more than 20 Devon Meadows players will sit it out.
Craig said the new-look Meadows would have 10 debutants on Saturday, including Doveton premiership star Lachie Batten and former Box Hill and Port Melbourne VFL player Aaron Johns.
“I’d like to think we’re going to be competitive no matter who we play,” Craig said.
“We’ve got some good attitudes around the place. It’s fun.
“What we’ve purposely gone out and recruited is an instinctive forward line.”
Devon Meadows’ recruits include Batten (Doveton), Johns (Belgrave), Isaac Barassi (Doncaster) and Brodie McConnell (Beaconsfield).
Former Richmond star Brett Deledio will play for Devon Meadows on Sunday, April 25.
AFL South East chief operating officer Shaun Connell said the return of local footy was a great thing for communities.
He wants spectators to observe social distancing protocols but most of all to have fun.
“We’re just looking forward to the first bounce and getting everything away again,” he said.
“That’s what it’s all about.”
PEARCEDALE
Coach: Justin “Boris’’ Hamilton
Captain: Dave Hussey
Season 2019: 12th
Ins: Chris Brooking (Mordialloc), Jayden Cole (Langwarrin), Jeremy Daniels (Pines), Bayde Mate (Langwarrin)
Outs: Max Gearon (Cranbourne), Mitch Lindsay (Cranbourne), Reece Twyford (Chelsea Heights)
DEVON MEADOWS
Coach: Neil Craig
Captain: Tim Saunders
Ins: Lachie Batten (Doveton), Aaron Johns (Belgrave), Isaac Barassi (Doncaster), Brodie McConnell (Beaconsfield), Rowan Nayna (Greenvale)
Outs: Patty Harmes (Poowong), Michael Theodoridis (Drouin)
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