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The key focus areas ahead of the 2024 country footy season

From premiership teams ripped apart in the off-season and those looking to defend their flags to the big name recruits, these are the major talking points ahead of the country footy season.

Yarrawonga coach Steve Johnson. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin
Yarrawonga coach Steve Johnson. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

The footy season is here and there is plenty to be excited about as country teams around the state get cracking into the new year.

For some, premiership glory is on the radar while for others just improving from last year is the goal.

So what do we expect to happen this year?

We’ve listed 20 things to look out for from the leagues across the state.

1. Mergers to continue to happen

This year will see two merged teams play for the first time with the Maryborough Giants (Maryborough Castlemaine District) and Southern Mallee Thunder (Wimmera) involved. And there is already another merger for next year with Nullawil and Wycheproof-Narraport merging in the North Central.

2. Can Darley go back-to-back?

It’s been 23 years since a non-Ballarat team has won back-to-back flags in the Ballarat league. Darley last year won a thrilling grand final against North Ballarat and despite losing a few players in the off-season will be competitive to break that drought, especially with Brett Bewley back again.

Can Darley win another flag? Picture: Hamish Blair
Can Darley win another flag? Picture: Hamish Blair

3. Kardinia Park back for footy finals

Geelong’s premier football competition, the Geelong Football League, will return to Kardinia Park with grand finals to be held at the now 40,000-seat stadium. It is the first time since 2019 the venue has hosted the decider and it is sure to be a big crowd on the AFL Grand Final public holiday.

4. Eagles to rock again?

Never in the history of the Central Highlands league has a team won three straight premierships. Gordon have the chance to break it. With Adam Toohey back as captain, after relinquishing the coaching duties to Brenton Payne, the Eagles are on track to be one of the best again.

5. Golden Square’s premiership defence

It’s been a nightmare of an off-season for the Bulldogs which has left their premiership defence in tatters. They’ve lost more than a dozen players including leading goalkicker Joel Brett and midfield guns Thomas Toma and Rick Monti alongside coach Christian Carter and president Ian Symons.

6. Can the unbeaten teams stay on top?

Marong (Loddon Valley), Kerang (Central Murray), Sea Lake Nandaly (North Central), Traralgon Tyers United (North Gippsland), Cudgewa (Upper Murray) and Harrow Balmoral (Horsham District) all enter the year as the reigning premiers with unbeaten seasons. Can the six remain the best this year?

7. Demons aim to end barren run 

Portarlington holds the second longest active losing streak in Victoria with 68 straight losses, and it is every chance to end this year. After a recruiting spree headlined by former AFL players Connor Menadue, Teia Miles and Jaryd Cachia, the Demons hosted Newcomb in round one on Good Friday.

Ararat will contend again. Picture Yuri Kouzmin
Ararat will contend again. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

8. Ararat aims for period of dominance 

It’s been almost 70 years since Ararat dominated the Wimmera league, winning four premierships in a row from 1955 to 1958. Is this year the year the Rats return to that level? The side has kept most of their players from last year and now the two Tom’s, Tom Williamson (ex-Carlton player) and Tom Mills (ex-VFL player), are coaching.

9. Robinvale Euston’s bounce back

Redemption will be high on the Eagles’ agenda as they aim to right the wrongs of last year. The team won the minor premiership but lost last year’s grand final to Irymple, who won its third straight flag.

10. Welcome back Roos

Corowa-Rutherglen returns to the Ovens and Murray league after being in recess. The club should be applauded for spending last year rebuilding the club but face a tough start to life again. We’ll get a good indication early of how competitive the side will be with four matches out of their first five against last year’s finalists.

11. Creating Anakie in Geelong and District League

Anakie has renewed hope after a bumper off-season with Western Bulldogs premiership player Luke Dahlhaus and former Hawthorn listed tall Andrew Boseley among a wave of recruits. The Roos have recorded just one win and 47 losses in the last three seasons.

12. Pigeons look to put off-season behind them

It’s been an off-season like no other for Yarrawonga with their coach Steven Johnson and players Jess Koopman going to hospital after off-field incidents. But the team will still be one to beat in Ovens and Murray. The team

has kept most of their players from last year’s premiership success and also recruited Daniel Howe who played for Hawthorn last year.

Leongatha is a Gippsland league powerhouse. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin
Leongatha is a Gippsland league powerhouse. Picture: Yuri Kouzmin

13. Will the Parrots chirp again?

Leongatha continues to impress in the Gippsland league, winning four of the past five titles despite having a population of just under 6000 people. The Parrots are looking to become the first team in 20 years to win three flags in a row but will face a stern tests again from Wonthaggi and Moe.

14. Eagles rise with ex-AFL talent

All the chips are in for North Warrnambool this year after signing ex-AFL players Steven Motlop and Michael Barlow to join Nathan Vardy as player-coach. Since entering the Hampden league in 1997 the Eagles have yet to win a premiership, falling short a couple of times in grand finals.

15. Redemption for the Lions

Seymour lost twice during the 2023 season before being eliminated in the finals in straight sets, ending a chance to win a premiership for the first time since 2007. The Goulburn Valley team has spent the off-season searching for answers and have recruited ex-AFL player and former junior David Mundy back to the club.

16. Castlemaine on the rise

Castlemaine has won seven games out of its past 101 games in the Bendigo league but the next seven wins could come this season if everything goes to plan. The team has recruited heavily in the off-season with former AFL player Michael Hartley joining from Seymour to coach.

17. Fish Creek’s hard times on premiership defence

Fish Creek is country footy’s most successful club with 37 premierships but the challenge for 38 this year will be tough. Over the off-season the clubs rooms were destroyed deliberately by fire, causing Fish Creek to find temporary facilities to play in this year.

18. Goalkickers on the move

Last year six forwards kicked more than 100 goals in the season. This year three are on the move with Brandyn Grenfell (Marong to Nyah Nyah West), Ethan Redcliffe (Mitta United to Wodonga Bulldogs) and James Harney (Echuca United to Elmore) at new clubs. Can all hit 100 again?

19. Country clubs looking to bounce back

Portarlington (Bellarine), Maryborough (Bendigo), Nilma Darnum (Ellinbank), Wahgunyah (Tallangatta), Rumbalara (Murray), Gormandale (North Gippsland), Westerns (South West), Caramut (Mininera), Laharum (Horsham), Melton South (Ballarat), Apollo Bay (Colac), Old Collegians (Warrnambool) and Campbells Creek (Maryborough Castlemaine) and St Arnaud (North Central) all had winless seasons in 2023.

20. Ex-AFL talent set to shine

More than 50 ex-AFL players are going to be playing in country footy this year and that doesn’t include the Carlton Draft who have Isaac Smith, Trent Cotchin, Matthew Lloyd and Dylan Buckley. The likes of Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti (Imperial), Steven Motlop (North Warrnambool), Lachlan O’Brien (Wangaratta Rovers), Daniel Howe (Yarrawonga), and David Mundy (Seymour) are sure to put on a show.

Don’t miss your 16-page 2024 Local Footy lift-out only in the Sunday Herald Sun on March 31.

Check out the liftout for the new Local Footy season in Sunday's paper. Picture: Supplied.
Check out the liftout for the new Local Footy season in Sunday's paper. Picture: Supplied.

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/localfooty/the-key-focus-areas-ahead-of-the-2024-country-footy-season/news-story/9a00430bb1a74064c4ec51e0b387d7f3