Gippsland: Leongatha ready for even more challengers in 2023

Gippsland Football League: Leongatha were premiers and champions in 2022, but the title holders fully expect their rivals to make a flag defence no walk in the park.

David Johnston

2 min read

March 26, 2023 - 6:00AM

The Weekly Times

Leongatha premiers and champions in Gippsland FL

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Leongatha premiership coach Trent McMicking is bracing for even more challengers to emerge and upset the club’s pursuit of back-to-back flags in the Gippsland league this season.

The Parrots finished the home and away season undefeated and eventually claimed the flag last year.

But their passage through the finals series was far from easy with a narrow win against arch-rivals Wonthaggi in the second semi-final followed by a grand final win against Sale with the game still sitting on a knife edge heading into the last term.

“Everyone is going to be stronger and the whole competition is going up another level,” McMicking said.

“Our depth was what kept us undefeated last year.

“But the competition is so much more even and is probably mirrored by teams second to fifth on the ladder beating each other during the year.

“The challengers are coming thick and fast for us this year, no doubt.”

Leongatha star Tom Marriott won the league best and fairest in a premiership winning season last year. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Leongatha’s major departee is key defender Matt Willcocks back to Vermont, but the Parrots have signed former Port Melbourne player Guy Dickson from Kyneton as a replacement.

While the Parrots’ list is largely unchanged, the beaten grand finalist could be potentially stronger with the signing of Maffra best and fairest Hudson Holmes off-setting its biggest loss, Ryan Pendlebury to Euroa.

Wonthaggi is entering its second full season under Collingwood 2010 premiership player Jarryd Blair and will be buoyed by the permanent availability of Kyle Reid and further development of young stars Ryan Sparkes and Jack Hutchinson.

Traralgon lost to Sale in the first semi-final by only three points and could be even stronger with the addition of former junior Jordan Cunico from Geelong and proven metropolitan goalkicker Billy Schillig.

Brett Eddy, right, booted 71 goals in his first season with Traralgon. Picture Yuri Kouzmin

Brett Eddy is back for another season after booting 71 goals in his first year at the club.

Morwell rounded out the top five last season with exciting youngster Tristen Waack finishing runner-up to Leongatha star Tom Marriott in the league best and fairest.

Waack has won a spot on VFL club Box Hill’s list this season.

Challenges from outside the top five are expected to come from multiple directions.

Top of the list will be Moe which went from winning six of its first seven games to missing finals with a horrendous run of injuries.

Heading the list of casualties returning are coach Declan Keilty, Kristian Jaksch and Tyson Biffin with the club also recruiting Nicholas and Chris Prowse from Maribyrnong Park.

Maffra will be stung by a rare finals miss and Warragul is also shaping as an improver under first year coach Jed Lamb with the club retaining the services of another former AFL player Nick Graham and adding Liam Sumner.

Bairnsdale has had a productive off-season with the addition of Xavier Richards, who played in Sydney’s losing 2016 grand final team and been a star with Old Xaverians in recent seasons, and midfielder Will Mitchell and Lachlan Byrne-Jones.

Logan Austin is back for a second season in charge of Bairnsdale and Drouin has turned to Brent Clinnick to revive its on field fortunes.