Geelong local footy: 24 things to watch out for in 2024
It promises to be a big season across the Geelong, Bellarine and Geelong & District competitions. Here are the big storylines to track in 2024.
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Big-name recruits, new coaches, sides eager to make a statement and much, much more.
There are plenty of storylines to keep an eye out for in Geelong local football this season.
We reveal 24 things to watch out for in the GFNL, BFNL and GDFL in 2024.
GFNL
CAN YOUNG EAGLES FILL HUGE VOID?
Newtown & Chillwell had a brutal off-season, losing two competition’s best players in Blake Sutterby (Geelong Amateur) and Matt Boag (Torquay) and a handful of other players, including goalkicker Lachie Bond. The new-look Eagles will undoubtedly be one of the most fascinating subplots this season. And with their burgeoning junior program, they might surprise a few.
PREMIERSHIP RACE WIDE OPEN
Good luck predicting who will salute in the GFNL this year. There may be five or even six genuine premiership contenders this year. Leopold (fourth) and South Barwon (third) played off in last year’s decider, highlighting the evenness of the competition. St Joseph’s, Geelong West and Bell Park will be circling if one of the top five from last year drops out.
SPOLDING SPARK
An assistant coach under Mark Neeld at South Barwon, Jacob Spolding is the only new coach in the GFNL this year. Returning to the club he served as an assistant at from 2021-22, can Spolding lead Grovedale to a similar rise to South Barwon last year? A grand final berth appears a long shot, but they should be more competitive with the recruits they’ve brought on board.
CAN YOUNG SWANS BACK UP BREAKOUT?
South Barwon scope the Coates Talent League better than anyone. This off-season they have snapped up four Geelong Falcons graduates – one of those from their own junior program – and two others who have been through the elite talent pathway. They add to a list already stacked with emerging talent that should thrive again under Mark Neeld.
SMITH TO TAKE GFL BY STORM
Devon Smith, 30, won an AFL best-and-fairest for Essendon just six years ago. After being sidelined for the entire season last year with a ruptured Achilles suffered in Lara’s first practice game, the Cats playing co-coach will have opposition defenders quivering in their boots.
CAN COLAC BREAK FINALS HOODOO?
Colac was one of the favourites for the flag after finishing just one win behind minor premiers St Mary’s. They went on to go out in straight-set for the second consecutive season. The weight of expectation will be hanging over the Tigers this year as they are more than capable of winning the whole thing.
RECORD CROWD AT GFL GRAND FINAL
The 2016 GFNL grand final brought in an estimated 6500 fans to Kardinia Park – a record-breaking crowd according to AFL Barwon. The GFNL will like their chances of beating that figure this year in their return to the new-look Cattery, given it falls on the grand final public holiday.
HOW WILL BOTTOM THREE FARE?
Competitive balance and relegation has been firmly on the agenda this off-season. In 2023, Lara, St Albans and North Shore won just five games between them in the GFNL. It is likely to be a battle for the wooden spoon between the three of them, but the trio should be more competitive – particularly St Albans after getting the monkey off its back.
BFNL
AMMOS RELOAD
Finishing last season six points off fifth place, Geelong Amateur should be a finals contender again with the addition of some big name talent.
The Ammos have added Werribee VFL star Tom Gribble as a full time playing assistant coach; a dual J.J. Liston Medal winner who averaged 30 possessions a game in 2023.
Meanwhile, Geelong Amateur have also signed dual GFNL premiership player and St Mary’s forward Paddy Dowling, who kicked 157 goals in 85 games for the Saints.
THE DEES TO BREAK THROUGH
After the addition of some former AFL players (Connor Menadue, Jaryd Cachia, Teia Miles) – which has reportedly lifted training standards – the Dees are poised to score their first win since 2018.
And would there be a better time to do it than Round 1 at home this Friday night against Newcomb?
ROOS TO GET A CLEAR RUN AT IT
Anglesea’s premiership aspirations last year were largely curtailed by injury, with the Roos bravely soldiering on to make it to week two of the finals.
However, with a clean bill of health, and the inclusion of Southport goalkicker Mitch Johnson and a few other bright talents, the Roos are confident they can go deeper in September this year.
HOW WILL THE HAWKS RESPOND?
It will be interesting to see how Drysdale has improved over the off-season when it comes up against the reigning premiers on their home deck in Round 1.
The Tigers put their foot to the floor in the final term of last season’s decider, turning a one-point deficit into a 32-point triumph by the final siren.
However, the bitter taste of disappointment is driving this young squad, senior coach Ben Carmichael says, so will the Hawks make a massive statement and start to bridge the gap between Torquay and the rest?
BIG TOM TO DOMINATE
After stepping down as a co-coach in 2024, will big Tom Hornsey rival the likes of Lucas Anderson and Tom Ruggles, or Paddy Dowling at the Ammos, to become the league’s most potent forward?
New coach Mark Hovey says he wants to bring the fun back to footy at Mount Moriac Recreation Reserve.
Hornsey will be central to how much they have on the park.
TOM TO SNARE THE LES
Geelong Ammos’ biggest recruit for 2024, Tom Gribble, is hardly a spent force, having come third in the J.J. Liston Medal last year — a prize he won twice during his glittering career.
So we’re expecting Gribble to challenge strongly for the Les Ash Medal for the league’s best and fairest.
JAMO’S BACK
It was a forgettable season for the Coutas in 2023, finishing well off the pace as its senior coach, Rory Nicol, departed the scene before the final round.
However, with the return of five-time premiership coach Heath Jamieson, we’re expecting Queenscliff to be a far more competitive unit in 2024.
Jamieson is back at where it all began from a coaching perspective — can it result in a jump up the ladder?
GDFNL
FRESH BLOOD DOMINATES
With so many recruits flooding into the GDFNL this year, including some high profile former AFL talent such as Luke Dahlhaus and Billie Smedts and quality country league footballers from Geelong league counterparts including Rob Maibaum, a new face will step up to take out this year’s Whitley medal.
WERRIBEE WITHSTAND HEAT
The Centurions had a horror back end to last year, losing six of their final eight matches to miss finals. But with some key inclusions and an off-season to lean into into the disappointment, we’re expecting Rhyce Prismall’s group to be more battle ready for a run into finals.
EMERGING THREAT
With a handful of the league’s better forwards moving on this year, the development of East Geelong’s Caleb Ezard as one of the league’s premier forwards continues with a top-five goal kicking finish.
FINALS SQUEEZE
With several clubs on fringe of finals last year seemingly getting better on paper, it will put more pressure on the top five finals spots. Expect to see it go down to the final round.
TURNING TIDE
Anakie has enjoyed a bumper recruiting period with the arrival of new coach Jayke Mawson, and by all accounts it's bringing a wave of enthusiasm through its supporter base. The qualify on paper indicates the Roos should have a far better season in the wins and losses columns and relinquish the wooden spoon in the process.
ONE STEP BACK, TWO STEPS FORWARD
Bell Post Hill has arguably one of the longer and more damaging lists of departures, including several experienced premiership players as well as leading goalkicker Will Ford. While we’re expecting some sort of fall down the ladder, we wouldn’t be surprised to see their next generation of leaders to step up to soften the impact.
FINALS INJECTION
Bannockburn isn’t sure how often they’ll see a trio of Geelong Falcons talent in James Hose, Ryan Perkins and Leigham Elzinga. All played meaningful senior minutes last year, and if stars align with the Tigers’ finals aspiration and Falcons duties, they could all play a role near the pointy end of the season.
LIFTING STANDARDS
The bottom echelon of teams will be more competitive this year, even if their win-loss record doesn’t reflect it.
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Originally published as Geelong local footy: 24 things to watch out for in 2024
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